Power to the people

Bangladesh's governance structure has undergone a change with the Gram Sarkar Act, promulgated in February 2003, coming into effect. This legislation empowers villages to participate and implement their development programmes. Villages will form executive committees to take over local governance.

Apart from development planning at the village level, these local bodies will build up a "united resistance" against various offences like repression of women, terrorism and theft. They will maintain law and order, and report to the union parishads.