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Public Trust in the Recommendations of Local Government Reform Commission: A Study on Cumilla District

Keywords

Abstract

The formation of Local Government Reform Commission (LGRC) was catalyzed by the July Revolution 2024 as a critical institutional response to address structural and electoral reforms. Among its key proposals, the commission emphasized reforms in local electoral processes and recommended a unified legal framework as well as a combined election system across all tiers of local government to strengthen local governance in Bangladesh. This study draws on Lewin’s Theory of Change (Unfreeze-Change-Refreeze) to understand the role of public trust in solidifying and adopting the desired change or reform. This research aims to assess public trust in the LGRC’s recommendations, focusing particularly on citizens’ awareness, agreement, and perceptions of implementation feasibility. A total of 400 respondents, purposively selected based on their prior participation in at least one local government election, were surveyed, stratified by administrative units: City Corporation, Pourashava, Upazila Parishad, and Union Parishad. The data analysis was done using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Findings reveal that awareness levels vary significantly across local government tiers, with urban respondents (City Corporations and Pourashavas) demonstrating relatively higher familiarity with the LGRC’s work. Geographical and gender differences in trust and awareness are also revealed by the study. Lower levels of knowledge with the LGRC were reported by rural respondents, especially women, underscoring the need for more inclusive public engagement tactics. Despite the fact that most respondents accept the proposed combined electoral system, skepticism and doubt remains regarding the political will to implement reforms. The paper concludes with the findings that the successful implementation of the LGRC’s recommendations depends highly on public trust, political consensus, and administrative readiness.

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