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A Case Study of the Barisal Irrigation Project, Bangladesh

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A Case Study of the Barisal Irrigation Project, Bangladesh THE MATRIX OF INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION IN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: A CASE STUDY OF THE BARISAL IRRIGATION PROJECT, BANGLADESH. A. B. M. Shafiqur Rahman B.A. Honours Sociology, Univ. of Dhaka, 1967 M.A. Sociology, Univ. of Dhaka, 1968 Diploma Journalism, Univ. of Dhaka, 1972 M.A. Journ. & Mass Communication, Univ. of Dhaka, 1973 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS) in the Department of Communication @ A. B. M. Shafiqur Rahman 1986 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY June 1986 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy * or other means, without permission of the author. A.B.M. Shafiqur Rahman Degree : Doctor of Philosophy (Communication)(Special Arrangements) Title of Thesis: The Matrix of Institutional Communication in lkvelopment Projects: A Case Study of the Barisal Irrigation Project, Bangladesh Ekamining Conunittee : Chairperson: Dr. ~ruce,Cla@n, Dean of C@aduate Studies -r I ,,--- 1' ' Robert S. Anderson, Associate mfessor Senior Supervisor Dr. G. Marilyn Gates, Assistant ProfessoF Department of Sociology and Anthropology Dr. Theodore H. Cohn, Professor Department of Political Science - . Dr. E. Walter Coward, Professor Asian Studies, International Agriculture and Rural Sociology, Cornell University External Examiner Date Approved : 23 June 1986 PARTIAL COPYRlGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser Unlverslty the right to lend my thesis, project or extended essay (the title of which is shown below) to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational Institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission tor multiple copying of this work for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this work for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Title of fhes i s/Project/Extended Essay The Matrix of Institutional Communication in Development Projects: A Case Study of the Bapisal Irrigation Project, Bangladesh Author : - (signature) A.B.M. Shafiqur Rahman ( name 23 June 1986 (date) I ABSTRACT The roots of development problems in Bangladesh actually lie in rural areas since 80% of the economy and 90% of its people depend on agriculture. The World Bank and others lent capital, technology and expertise, the state framed policies, rearranged bureaucracies, and created local institutions. Still the country's plan of food self-sufficiency was unrealised. In some cases, it even deteriorated. This study attempts to explain this dilemma by analysing communication relations among national parastatal development institutions and their local extensions. The ways these institutions articulated their interests, controlled and used information to their advantage, and the values and procedures they adopted, received special attention. The World Bank-funded Barisal Irrigation F'roject, its four managing parastatal bureaucracies and its local institutions were studied through long-term empirical field methods to understand the institutional matrix and its consequences. It was found that the military and the bureaucracy, developing a symbiotic relationship in state power, communicated their domination over development policies. The international institutions facilitated and/or interfered in this communication strategy. The competition among the managing bureaucracies for autonomous power and legitimacy prevailed over the agriculturists' practical needs. The result was an expansion of parastatal institutions and increased conflicts among national and local implementing institutions affecting agricultural underdevelopment Although some success was achieved in this project by trapping tidal water through sluice-structures, because of institutional complexities the water was unavailable in many fields. Food production reached only 20% of the appraised target; 20,000 of the estimated 141,000 acres were irrigated; the profits of big farmers with generous technical support steadily iii declined. The majority of small farmers resisted or ignored the project and did not form co-operatives. But the project's administrative and consultancy expenses increased by 200%. This study observed a relatively autonomous role of state institutions in sustaining and expanding its state structure to create strong central and weak local institutions. The conservation of the strong-weak relationship has been identified in this thesis as a major communication strategy of state power in Bangladesh. This fact is crucial for comprehending the matrix and the success of development projects and programmes. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My ideas and interests in development and communication which had their origin at Dhaka University and Bangladesh Television, could only develop as a dissertation with constant guidance and encouragement from my Senior Supervisor Dr. Robert Anderson His knowledge and understanding of Asian societies, his empathy and patience as a guide made him my mentor in my graduate studies at Simon Fraser University. Thanks are also due to Professors William H. Melody, Paul Heyer, Marilyn Gates and E. Walter Coward Jr. who took special interest in my dissertation and offered valuable suggestions. Others who always remained sources of encouragement were Dr. Kathy Mezei, Dr. Syed A. Rahim, Dr. Mahtabudin Ahmed, Dr. Rahina Mahtab, Dr. R.I. Choudhury, Mr. A.Z. Khan, Professors M. Afsaruddin, A.Q.I.M. Nuruddin, Dr. M. Badmd Duza, Dr. Mizanur Rahman Miah, Dr. Ekram Ahsan, George and Margarett Randall, Rev. Joseph and Mrs. Frances Manioli. I also appreciate the support provided by B.P. Sanjay, Lynne Hissey, Marlene Patterson, Regina Costa, Nurul Huda, Abdullah Noman and other friends from British Columbia and Bangladesh. My posthumous respect to Professor A.K. Nazmul Karim who taught me both in and outside the classroom about society and its complexities. I wish to acknowledge the support extended by the Ford Foundation, Simon Fraser University, the Canadian Board of International of Education and the University of Chittagong which allowed me to complete this dissertation. My wife Rafida faced and tolerated many difficult situations during the program's long duration, but was never short in her constant encouragement and love for me. For this and much more, I am indebted to her. TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval ...................................................................................................................................................................... ii Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgement .............................. ;........................................................................................................................ v INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 1 The Thesis Problem ......................................................................................................................... 1 The Research Questions ................................................................................................................. 3 Definition of Some Terms Used: .............................................................................................. 4 The Context of the Thesis .......................................................................................................... 6 Communication and Development ............................................................................................. 10 Selection of the Problem ............................................................................................................. 12 An Institutional Methodology ..................................................................................................... 15 Chapter Outlines .............................................................................................................................. 18 COMPETITIVE COMMUNICATION. OVERT AND COVERT TECHNIQUES. AND POINT OF VIEW ......................................................................................................................... 22 Overt and Covert Techniques in Communication .............................................................. 24 The Point of View in Communication .................................................................................. 29 THE STATE AS AN AUTONOMOUS COMMUNICATION AGENCY ............................ 32 The Communication Function of the State ......................................................................... 33 The State and Integration: Instrumental and Autonomous Roles ............................... 35 The State and Conflict: Instrumental and Autonomus Roles ....................................... 40 Autonomous Communication by the State ............................................................................ 42 INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO THE RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS ............................................................................................................... 51 The Setting: .....................................................................................................................................
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