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Introduction

An important regulation that controls how Union Parishads operate in Bangladesh is the
Union Parishad Act of 2009. The Act went into effect on August 15, 2009, after being
published in the Bangladesh Gazette on July 14, 2009. This law was intended to improve the
delivery of essential services in rural areas and to decentralize power and responsibility to
local communities. The Act was made in response to a long-standing desire in Bangladesh
for the devolution of authority and resources from the national government to local
councils. The objective was to strengthen local communities and encourage their active
involvement in the growth process.

Critical Appraisal of Union Parishad

The amendment of 2009 has 17 section and this section are well established to guide
development in a structured way for any union parishad. I have tried to categorized this
section in a structed way to demonstrate the works of those section.

Categories Chapter
Preliminary 1 2
Establishment and Composition of Union Parishads 3 4 5

Election and Appointment of Members 6 7

Functions and Responsibilities 8 9 10

Finance and Taxation 11 12

Staff and Administration 13 14
Miscellaneous 15 16 17

Preliminary: The Act's introductory parts, which give details on its title, scope, and start date
as well as the definitions of key terminology used throughout the Act, fall under this
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category. These provisions aid in establishing the jurisprudential setting and background for
the application of the Union Parishad Act 2009.

Establishment and Composition of Union Parishads: The creation of Union Parishads, the
delineation of Union Parishad regions, and the composition of Union Parishads are all
covered in this topic.

Election and Appointment of Members: There are sections in this category that describe the
eligibility, nomination, and vote processes for Union Parishad members. The appointment of
Union Parishad Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and Members is also covered in these sections.

Functions and Responsibilities: The parts in this category outline the duties and obligations
of Union Parishads. The creation of Standing Committees, which have specific duties related
to service delivery, the creation and execution of Plans, which aid in guiding the
development of Union Parishads, and other duties associated with the provision of
fundamental services and infrastructure are some examples of these.

Finance and Taxation: Sections in this category cover the financial elements of Union
Parishads, including their revenue sources, financial administration, and taxation. The
availability of grants and loans to Union Parishads is also covered in these sections.

Staff and Administration: Sections under this category cover the appointment, duties, and
supervision of Union Parishad employees as well as other aspects of their administration.
These sections also discuss how higher authorities oversee and govern Union Parishads.

Miscellaneous: Sections that address various other elements of the Union Parishad Act
2009, such as the authority to enact regulations, the authority to resolve issues, and the
repeal and savings clauses, are included in this category.

From this categorization of the section we can clearly understand the positive and negative
aspects of Union Parishad Amendment Act 2009 .

The Act's ability to give Union Parishads the authority to create and carry out plans for the
development of their regions is one of its beneficial characteristics. By establishing a budget
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and carrying it out, this union has the ability to plan its own development. is accelerating the
process of development.

Having the ability to tax collection is another advantageous component of this regulation.
For an administrative unit, collecting taxes or other forms of revenue is a crucial
administrative function. Giving the union parishad this authority gives it a lot of power, and
the ability to spend that money for union development accelerates that process.

The amendment clearly defines the united parishad's role. In a committee, the chairman's
and members' roles are specified. This directs how efficiently rural power is distributed and
how development project work is accountable.

Negative aspect of this law is there is no formal link between the UP and its citizens, there is
a lack of cooperation between them, which has an impact on both the quality and quantity
of services provided. This is due to the fact that the majority of locals are not well-informed
about UP activities and their contribution to local development.

Another drawback is that the UP has a substantial capacity deficit that prohibits it from
carrying out its responsibilities in terms of manpower, instruction, and provision of logistics.
Union Parishads may nevertheless be subject to extensive supervision and control by higher
authorities despite having some autonomy, which could hinder their capacity to act
independently and address local needs and priorities.

In conclusion, even if the Union Parishad Act of 2009 has several advantageous features,
there are still some serious drawbacks that demand attention. All of the difficulties must be
resolved in order for Union Parishads to function efficiently and offer acceptable services to
local communities. The Act has the ability to considerably enhance the operation of local
government in Bangladesh's rural areas and support the development of these regions by
resolving the challenges.