National Institute of Local Government

National Institute of Local Government the sole training and research institute under the Local Government Division of the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) responsible for imparting training to the elected and nominated representatives, employees and appointed officials of both urban and rural local government bodies. Earlier in Pakistan period, Pakistan Academy for Rural Development and National Institute of Public Administration were responsible for conducting research and training on local government and rural development. But they were unable to meet the due demand. As a result, the idea of establishing a local government institute was proposed in the governor's conference held at Islamabad in 1965 and a decision was taken to set up a local government institute in East Pakistan. In 1967, the government appointed a United States Agency for International Development consultant to study its feasibility. In the light of his report, the local government institute was formally established as an autonomous organisation on 1 July 1969 under the East Pakistan Government Education and Training Institute Ordinance, 1961. In Bangladesh the institute was renamed as the National Institute of Local Government in 1980.

The prime objectives and functions of the Institute are to: (i) provide training on different aspects of local government administration and development to the elected and nominated representatives, appointed officials of city corporations, pourashavas, zila parishads, upazila parishads, union parishads etc; (ii) conduct research on specific problems and issues of local government institutes and related areas; (iii) provide consultancy services, if government desires, to local government division of the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives on policy formulation related to local government; (iv) provide training to the officials of various government agencies connected with local government; (v) hold workshops, seminars, conferences at national and international levels on policies, programmes and problems related to local government bodies; (vi) collect information, monitor and evaluate occasionally the functioning of local bodies and related subjects; (vii) provide documentation facility and to build up a national documentation centre on local government and related fields; (viii) publish journals, research studies and evaluation reports on local government matters; (ix) conduct library and reading room; (x) coordinate training and research programmes, and develop a national institutional network on local government training, research, publication and documentation; (xi) establish liaison with similar institutions in the country as well as similar organisations of other countries; (xii) take up collaborative programmes on matters relating to local governments with international organisations; (xiii) introduce certificate course on different subjects related to local government; and (xiv) take up any other programmes as and when required by the government.

Housed in its own premises at Agargaon, Dhaka, the institute is headed by the director general as the chief executive. The director general discharges his responsibilities as per instructions/guidance of the board of governors which is formed in pursuance of the National Institute of Local Government Law, 1992. The function of the institute consists of training and consultancy, research and planning, administration and coordination representing separate divisions each headed by a director who is assisted by deputy directors and assistant directors. [Mohammad Ehsan]