POLITICAL ECONOMY OF KHAS LAND IN BANGLADESH
Abul Barkat / Shafique uz Zaman / Selim Raihan


Published by:

Mizanour Rahman Chowdhury, Executive Director,
Association for Land Reform and Development
9/17 Iqbal Road, Mohammadpur,
Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Phone: 9117092
Fax: 880-2-8113095, E-mail: alrd@dhaka.agni.com

First published August 2001

© Abul Barkat, S Zaman, S Raihan 2001

ISBN 984-31-1482-5

Price: Taka 300
US$ 20

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Identification and management of Khas land and water-bodies, distribution of the same to the landless and poor people, retention of such land and water-bodies by the landless and pertinent rules and practices within the prevailing social-political context of Bangladesh constitute prime issues of agrarian reform.

Out of the total amount of identified Khas land of 3.3 million acres, only a tiny portion has so far been distributed to the poor who face multifaceted difficulties in both obtaining and retaining land. Most Khas land, identified or un-identified, are illegally occupied by the rich segments of the society who are integral part of the power structure.

Agrarian reform is a must to ensure human development in Bangladesh. In realizing this, poor people’s ownership of and access to Khas land and water-bodies should be broadened. This is an issue of high political commitment, which can be materialized only through people’s involvement in such environment.