Local Government Accountability in South Asia

The Role of Citizen Charter in Bangladesh
Erscheinungsjahr 2026
ISBN: 978-981-956630-3
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 190 Seiten, Format (B × H): 160 mm x 241 mm, Gewicht: 481 g

This book offers a thorough investigation of how Citizen Charters may be effective vehicles for improving accountability, transparency, and citizen engagement in local governance, focusing particularly on Bangladesh's experience within the broader South Asian context, highlighting how Citizen Charters may empower people and change local government responsiveness in developing nations. Structured across eight thematically interconnected chapters, the book starts with a solid conceptual and theoretical analysis of local government and accountability systems. It then compares implementation strategies in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan—finding insights and challenges that speak universally. It then moves on to investigate the history of Citizen Charters and the path of local government reform in Bangladesh, revealing the contextual reality, institutional constraints, and reform initiatives influencing service delivery.

The book offers insights into how Citizen Charters function in practice, what hinders their effectiveness, and how their potential might be tapped by drawing on actual case studies from —Bangladesh's lowest tier of rural local government. It is essential reading for scholars of public administration, governance, and development studies; legislators looking for evidence-based reform ideas; NGO workers focussing on civic involvement and accountability; and anyone curious about how grassroots tools such as Citizen Charters can support the inclusive and accountable government in the Global South.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Panday, Pranab Kumar

Ahsan, A. H. M. Kamrul

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Verwaltungswissenschaft, Öffentliche Verwaltung
• Rechtswissenschaften Öffentliches Recht Verwaltungsrecht Verwaltungspraxis Kommunal- und Regionalverwaltung
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften Interdisziplinär Entwicklungsstudien
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Kommunal-, Regional-, und Landesverwaltung
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Arbeit/Sozialpädagogik
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter One  Introductory Discussion.-  Chapter Two  Theoretical and Conceptual Framework.-  Chapter Three Accountability and Citizen Charters A Comparative Analysis of Local Governance in South Asia.- Chapter Four Unfolding the Historical Journey of Local Government and Citizen Charter in Bangladesh.-  Chapter Five Citizen Charters in Action A Case Study of Bangladeshs Pursuit of Accountable Service Delivery.- Chapter Six Understanding Factors Affecting the Implementation of the Citizen Charter.-  Chapter Seven Theoretical Implications and Regional Insights.-  Chapter Eight Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Pranab Kumar Panday is Professor in the Department of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. He has also served as Adjunct Professor at Central Queensland University, Australia, for three years. Having taught and conducted research for over 27 years, he specialises in local government, public administration, public policy, public sector management, and gender and governance. His studies concentrate on social accountability, public involvement, and policy changes implemented in underdeveloped nations. Dr. Panday has written extensively—19 books, over 50 research papers—and has participated in more than fifty national and international consulting projects with UNDP, SDC, USAID, UN Women, and World Vision. In Bangladesh, he has undertaken pioneering studies on social accountability systems, women's political involvement, and local and urban government. Among the various research grants Dr. Panday has received are programs sponsored by the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, University of Rajshahi and foreign bodies like IDS, and AUS-AID. He has given presentations at several international conferences on public administration and local and urban government, and his work is well-known. He is also a co-author of various policy papers and academic books.

A. H. M. Kamrul Ahsan is currently Professor in the Department of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Having a background in public administration reforms, Dr. Ahsan emphasises citizen involvement in governance and accountability systems. Local government systems, public sector accountability, and the function of civil society organisations in governance pique his research interests. His work has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications.