Public Policy Implementation Challenges in Bangladesh: A Governance Perspective

Abstract

This paper outlines sequential issues of governance with regard to the execution of a public policy in Bangladesh. However, despite the impressive development in certain economic policies in line with SDGs, Vision 2041, and Delta Plan 2100, there is a huge gap between policy development and implementation on the ground. By utilizing qualitative, descriptive, and interpretive methodology and relying solely on secondary sources, the paper identifies five basic barriers to governance: bureaucratic incompetence, corruption, Interference by political activities, weak local governance, and lack of citizen input. The problems are examined using various theories of governance and public administration, implementation theory, principal-agent theory, and the good-governance theory. The main issue with all these ambitious international declarations is that the report indicates that the main barrier to sound policy by the people is not a problem of vision, but rather the absence of accountable, flexible, and receptive governance structures in which different stakeholders can engage. The paper concludes with some policy-based suggestions on systemic changes to assist in aligning the policy implementation ambition with its results.