First Published in Bangladesh by Pathak Shamabesh, January 2007
Copyright © Abul Barkat, Prosanta K Roy, Md. Shahnewaz Khan
All rights reserved

Bangladesh ISBN 984-8120-67-X
Price: Taka 595.00
UK. £ 30.95; USD 35.95.0

Published by
Shahidul Islam Bizu
PATHAK SHAMABESH
27, Aziz Market (First Floor), Shahbag, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
Tel : 88-02-9662766, 9663523, E-mail : pathak@bol-online.com
Website : www.pathakshamabesh.com

For further information, please contact with the publisher or the principal author:

Abul Barkat
Professor, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Phone: 9661900-59 (Ext.4435), 8116972, 8157621, 9661516
Fax: 880-2-8157620, E-mail: hdrc@bangla.net, hdrc.bd@gmail.com

Dhaka: Pathak Shamabesh
Outlet - 1 : PATHAK SHAMABESH, Gulshan, 204/B (2nd Floor) Tejgoan Link Road, Dhaka Tel : 88-02-9861003
Outlet - 2 : PATHAK SHAMABESH, Shahbag, 17/A Aziz Market, G.F. Tel : 88-02-9662766, 9663523, 0171303440

Within the overall socio-economic and political context of Bangladesh, CHAR LAND remains an ignored national resource. Rescuing char lands from illegal occupation and grabbing, redistribution of those among the poor people in the chars, appropriate management of char lands, enactment and implementation of pertinent rules and practices, and participation of char people in the process – all these constitute prime issues of agrarian reform in Bangladesh.

Char people have got into a trap of distress, destitution and deprivation. About 90 percent of the char people are river eroded with almost all of them being landless or functional landless and 97 percent living without rehabilitation. Conflict, violence and bloodshed seem to be a never-ending dilemma in the life in char.

Agrarian reform is a must to ensure human development in Bangladesh. In realizing this, char people’s right to land and right to rehabilitation should be realized. High political commitment coupled with respect to char people’s voice and organized movement for land and water-bodies are necessary.