Status of civic engagement in rural local government in Bangladesh for combating the COVID-19 pandemic period

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused various economic and political challenges in Bangladesh. In this regard, Bangladesh’s local government has initiated civic engagement to help solve the problem. The study focuses on analysing the status of civic engagement in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its necessity, classification, and challenges faced during this initiative in order to provide possible solutions are deeply discussed. Civic engagement is classified into advocacy, civic learning, community service, and service-learning. Some of the primary tools that Bangladesh’s government can use to enhance civic engagement include the internet as well as digital and print media. Some of the challenges experienced in Bangladesh include lack of knowledge and motivation, limited resources and misuse of public funds. Undoubtedly, civic engagement emerges as a vital tool for enabling Bangladesh’s rural local governments to encourage people to follow the required healthcare procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result, Bangladesh’s local government should adopt the following recommendations: 1. Collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure citizens learn protective measures for COVID-19. 2. Increase resources for civic engagement at the grass-root level. 3. Educate citizens about the benefits of engaging in civic education.