EC Country Strategy Paper for Bangladesh 2002-2006

• achieving gender equality and empowerment of women;
• removing supply-side constraints to accelerate growth and employment generation;
• achieving competitiveness of domestic production;
• integrating with the globalised world economy;
• promoting governance and social stability;
• reducing vulnerability and conserving the environment.
However, the objectives and areas of intervention forwarded by the Government of Bangladesh
until now have remained predominantly donor-driven and supply-led. There are as yet no clear
links established between policies, performance, expenditure and results or impacts. The programme
approach as opposed to the project approach has not yet gained a foothold with the
exception of the Health and Population Sector Programme (HPSP). Operational issues are
mostly left out of the policy discourse. Resource allocations are made on a year-by-year basis
in the Annual Development Budget (ADB) without moving towards a Mid-Term Expenditure
Framework (MTEF).
The development policy of both the GoB and the DPs is expected to move towards the general
framework advocated by the World Bank, i.e. the CDF and the PRSP – with a first draft PRSP
foreseen for 2002. This CSP therefore seeks complementary to GoB’s and DPs’ current development
strategies and to contribute at the same time to the introduction of the CDF and PRSP.
C. Analysis of the Political, Economic and Social Situation in Bangladesh
I - Political Situation
Political origins
Bangladesh has been independent since 1972. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the
Awami League, became the first Prime Minister of the independent Bangladesh (land of
Bengal). After his assassination in 1975, there were sixteen years of military-backed regimes.
The parliamentary elections which led to a centre-right Bangladesh National Party
(BNP, Prime Minister: Mrs Khaleda Zia) government being installed in 1991 marked the
start of a new era in building democratic institutions in Bangladesh. Elections, held in June
1996 under a caretaker government, resulted in the return to power of the Awami League,
led by Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of the first Prime Minister.
The Political System
a) The head of state is the President, elected by the Parliament. He appoints the Chief
Justice and can dissolve the parliament, on the advice of the Prime Minister.
b) The Prime Minister is vested with executive power.
c) The Parliament (Jatiya Sangshad) is a unicameral legislature with 300 directly
elected seats. The parliament sits for five years.
d) Elections: The Constitution of Bangladesh provides for elected government at all levels
of administration. The country is divided into six administrative divisions, each headed by
a Divisional Commissioner. Local government exists at Union (group of villages), Upzilla
(sub-district) and Zilla (district) level.
e) Administration: The public administration of Bangladesh is still highly centralised with a
hierarchical substructure. The administrative efficiency is questionable, and the overall
seize of the administration incommensurate with the economic status of the country and the
level of realised state revenue.
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