Bangladesh has unitary form of government. For the convenience of administration, the country is divided into six (6) Administrative Divisions – i) Dhaka ii) Chittagong iii) Khulna iv) Rajshahi v) Barisal and vi) Sylhet Each division is placed under a Divisional Commissioner and is further sub-divided into districts with a District Commissioner as the chief Administrator. After the administrative reorganization carried out in 1982, the country was divided into 64 Districts. 20 of these districts existed for a very long period while the rest rate is the one’s upgraded from former sub-divisions. The 20 old districts are now popularly known as greater districts. Below the district level there are the “THANAs” which number 490 in the country. During 1982-1990; 460 of thanas were upgraded to “UPAZILA” or sub-districts. In 1991 the upazila system reverted to the earlier thana structure. All divisions and district head quarters and most of the thana head quarters are Urban centers. Below the level of Thana, there are rural micro areas known as “UNIONS” (4,451 in numbers) and “GRAMS” or villages (more or less 80,865). The divisional level is the highest tier of administration, after the national level. The divisional Commissioner (popularly known as Commissioner) is the head of the Divisional Administration. S/he only plays a supervisory role over all the departments and agencies in the division. And also coordinates the functions of the district administration in the division. The district has been the focal point in the administrative system of Bangladesh. The head of the district administration is known as the Deputy Commissioner (DC). The administrative head of the Thana is known as the Thana Nirbahi Officer (TNO). The District and Thana/Upazila executives are assisted by a large number of officials as well as professional and technical personnel appointed by the central Government. Local Government in urban and rural areas is entrusted to bodies elected by the people. Such bodies are called “POURASHAVAS”or City corporations and Municipalities in urban areas; Gram parishads/sarkars, Union parishads/councils; Upazila parishads and Zila parishads in rural areas. |
Bangladesh Studies
