The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion on land and agrarian reform emphasised on distribution of government khas lands among the country's one crore landless people.

They said achievement of the millennium development goals will remain too far unless these landless people were included in the productive sector.

"Real human resources development or achieving MDGs will not be possible unless the khas lands are distributed among the landless people and include them in the economic activities," said Prof Abul Barkat of University of Dhaka.

The Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) organised the round table discussion titled 'land and agrarian reform in Bangladesh: empowerment of women and marginalized communities' with its chairperson Khushi Kabir in the chair.

Barkat said nearly 12 per cent of government khas land of total 2 crore bigha had been distributed and occupied by the political criminals and powerful quarters. The rest are also under threat of occupying by the same.

He said inclusion of the deprived people in the socio economic expansion is development. Women should be empowered in this process.

Barkat said a strong political commitment is must to ensure rights of poor people and its continuation on the khas lands in the country. He put forward 86 recommendations for land reforms to ensure rights of women and marginalized people. Prof Dr Anisur Rahman said the state of affairs will continue to rule until an alternative life can be given to the marginalized people.

He said over the last few decades the countries of East Asia have shown a path in this direction, freeing their poor people from the shackles of feudal/ semi-feudal rule and putting them in the drivers' seat in their development efforts along with other development entrepreneurs.

Prof Dr Atiur Rahman of University of Dhaka, Dr Kazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed and Shamsul Huda of ALRD also spoke on the occasion.