Problems of Urban Local Government Functionaries: The Case of the Secretaries of Pourashavas in Bangladesh

Pourashavas are engaged in the provisions of compulsory municipal service facilities>s like construction and maintenance (~f roads, di,lposal of wastes, street lighting, water supply, salivation alld drainage etc. Chairman and Commissioners of Pourashavas are responsible for taking policy- decisions in this respect. But implementation of their

decisions actually depends on the efficiency of the Secretaries, the head of administrative department of Pourashavas. The SecrO!taries have prospective socio-economic background in conducting their duties and responsibilities properly. Unfortunately, they are working with a lot of service related problem and limited facilities. Most of them have to suffer with unequal job status and insufficient all irregular salary. They are tram/erred to a long distance from th eir home district. Due to lack of spec(fico 'job description' a complicit between generalist and specialist is often observed in Pourashavas. Chairman and Commissioners impose political influence upon the Secretaries if they

deny doing any illegal work. They have lack of specialized training. Their provident fund and gratuity are not properly maintained. Moreover, they are not promoted timely. After 5 years completion 0/ service the authority does not approve their selection grade. They have lack of modern office equipments. It is difficult to ensure coordination

among other local authorities working in Pourashavas. To solve the above mentioned problems of the Secretaries of Pourashavas the government will have to take policy-decisions to reform Pourashava Ordinance, Service Rules, Business Rules, Provident Fund and Gratuity Rule. Upto April 2005 there were 298 Pourashavas, which are

increasing with rapid urbanization in Bangladesh. So it is about impossible for 'Poura-Section' of the Local Government Division