Women in urban local governance: A study on Dhaka city corporation

Abstract

Bangladesh has glorious past of local government administration system with a long recorded history of several thousand years. Our constitution categorically emphasizes the need for establishing local government with a representative character (Chapter 3, Article 59). It also implies direct participation of the people in constituting the local body and managing the affairs of such bodies. Honestly speaking, though constitutionally we are following the local government system in every tier but not practicing it properly. The governance of the Capital City Dhaka underwent several changes since liberation. The Act of 1974 (Act 56), designated Dhaka as the Dhaka Municipal Corporation. But in 1983, it was raised to the status of a City Corporation. In 1999, when direct election of Women ward Commissioners for reserved seats were introduced. In 2008, all Pourashava Chairmen came to be known as Mayors like City Corporation Mayors and Ward Commissioners as Councilors. The present study was carried out on Dhaka City Corporations ninety wards of thirty female ward councilors of reserved seat. Each of them was elected from three wards through the direct vote of voters both male and female. They were elected for five years. Their duties and responsibilities were determined by the Constitution, though it was not specific. The prime objective of this research is to closely assess the present scenario of empowerment of female ward councilor of reserved seat and the future possibility in every sense relating to political power. The present research work is totally an academic research work. It is an explanatory and participative work. Research methodology makes social science is more scientific. But which method will be chosen, it depends on the nature of the study, objectives of the study, what are the research questions about, time, place, and overall availability of the respondents. In relation to our research nature the researcher was interested to do the research work using qualitative research method. Because qualitative research is often more inter active with research participants than other approaches. This research is mainly a social research to exploit facts. It is conducted by case study. The present study has been conducted on five respondents with the female ward councilor of reserved seat of DhakaCity Corporation. For interviewing, the researcher has used purposive, non-probability, network sampling methods. The sampling size was 30. Purposively five female ward councilors of reserved seat have been chosen according to their age, experience etc. For present research work the researcher had to make a semi-structured interview guide in relation to the research questions. The respondents were well educated and wanted to do something better for the people. Among the respondent’s age ranges 35-60 years. The researcher found highest degree of MA in English and lowest degree in HSC. The others achieved graduation degree. Among them were not satisfied about their status. They commented against male ward councilor’s attitude. The female ward councilor had family supports. Three of them came from political family background. Among the interviewees, three of them told that they were not involved in any financial activities of standing committee, they only involved in development activities related to women issues. They had negetive experience about their position. It is really pathetic that female ward councilor of reserve seat have no dream about their future in politics and also DCC election.Because they do not exercise decision making power, especially in the standing committee. It is very unexpected situation that female ward councilor of reserve seat were introduced for ensuring women empowerment but today the issue is not proved positively. Male ward councilor always denied their opinion and activities positively. DCC election is hanging. No woman Mayor is yet appointed in DCC. So the coordination is not enough positive among the urban governance bodies.For this, the future of female ward councilor of reserve seat is not optimistic for them.