Relationship between Central and Local Government: Experiences from Turkey and Bangladesh

Abstract

Local government is an essential element of the states. The principles of administrative integrity and autonomy constitute the essence of the relationship between the central and local governments. Based on these two principles, the central government tries to determine the policy of the country's administration by obtaining power based on tutelage over local governments, while local governments demand autonomy within their areas of duty, with their resources, responsibilities, and powers. This situation follows a similar course in many countries of the world. This study aims to analyze the relations between Turkey and Bangladesh's central government and local governments, their administrative structures, duties, and functions. Turkey and Bangladesh, both Muslim-majority countries, share similar socio-cultural characteristics. Bilateral relations between these two countries have developed in recent years, especially in trade, defense, migration, and other sectors. Following the development of these bilateral relations, this paper is significant here to understand two countries’ local and central government relations.