A crisis in governance: Urban solid waste management in Bangladesh

This paper analyzes and reviews the role of governance in solid waste management as administered by the city governments in Bangladesh. An attempt has been made to examine how and to what extent operational problems impede delivery of conservancy services to urban dwellers. The study is primarily based on empirical data gathered in the years 2000, 2003 and 2009. The data document the lack of good governance which has a negative effect on the performance of a conservancy department. As a result, the department delivers inadequate and unsatisfactory services, thus rendering city governments vulnerable to citizens' complaints. A direct consequence of the poor performance of the conservancy department is the growth of community-based initiatives, private and non-government organizations, which are increasingly playing an important role in delivering conservancy services. In the light of its findings, the paper argues that city government, instead of showing indifference to private and community initiatives that have succeeded in reaching the service users, should share the service delivery responsibility with them. The results suggest that a well-built public–private partnership can ensure effective solid waste management and thus good urban governance in Bangladesh. The key lessons learned are: a number of challenges that stem from the lack of good governance thwarted an effective solid waste management; formation of public–private partnership was possible in a politically divided society; and, partnership emerged as an instrument for better service delivery.