Public Accountability of Urban Local Government’s Water Service Delivery: A Case of the Cumilla City Corporation

A Dissertation by

Azma Mahmuda Student ID-17172001 MAGD 8th Batch

Supervised by

Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan Professor, Development Studies Department Dhaka University

Submitted to BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) BRAC University, Dhaka

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts in Governance and Development (MAGD)

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) BRAC University, Dhaka,

Statement of the Candidate

I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis under the supervision of Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, Professor of Development Studies Department of Dhaka University and Adjunct Faculty of BIGD.

I authorize the Institute of Governance & Development (BIGD) and BRAC University to lend this thesis to other institutions or individuals for scholarly research.

I further authorize the BRAC Institute of Governance & Development and BRAC University to reproduce this thesis by photocopying or by other means, in total or in part, at the request of other institutions for scholarly research.

Azma Mahmuda Student ID-17172001 MAGD 8th Batch BIGD, BRAC University

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SUPERVISOR AUTHORIZATION

I hereby recommend and Certify that this dissertation entitled, “Public Accountability of Urban Local Government’s Water Service Delivery: A Case of the Cumilla City Corporation” has been prepared by Azma Mahmuda, Student ID- 17172001, MAGD, Batch-8, under my supervision for particular fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Governance and Development (MAGD), BIGD, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan Professor, Development Studies Department, Dhaka University & Adjunct Faculty of BIGD.

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Acknowledgment

First of all, she grateful to Almighty, without the kindness of Allah, it is impossible to accomplish the work.

The researcher is taking this opportunity to express her gratitude to everyone who supported her by providing friendly advice and guidance throughout this dissertation preparation.

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her mentor, guide and supervisor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, Professor of Development Studies Department of Dhaka University and Adjunct Faculty of BIGD, BRAC University with most honor and dignity for his cordial support, active cooperation, brilliant guidance and advice from the beginning to the end of this study.

The researcher is also obliged to express her gratitude to the course director, advisors, coordinators, support staff, and other officials of BIGD, for giving her the opportunity of using the library and providing books and other facilities of BIGD, as well as guidelines regarding conducting research.

She is also grateful to the respondents and concerned government officials of the Cumilla City Corporation who provide her necessary data and information to complete the study successfully.

This dissertation would not have been possible unless the necessary particulars as books, research articles, different legal statements etc. She tried to put accurate references to them. In this concern, she collected different materials from different libraries and websites. She would like to show my gratitude to them.

At last, she is thankful to all her family members, friends, and colleagues for their proper support and vigorous cooperation during the time of preparing this dissertation.

Acknowledged by Azma Mahmuda Student ID-17172001 MAGD, 8th Batch.

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Abstract

For human development water is fundamental. A city local government such as the City Corporation can play a key role to ensure this fundamental public service of safe water supply to the citizens. The SDG goal-16 focuses on access to water and sanitation for all by the year 2030, and emphasizes achieve