Bull. Fac. Life Env. Sci. Shimane Univ.,１０：１９－２６, August３１，２００５ Rural Development Policy and Administrative Patterns in Bangladesh: A Critical Review Md. Taufiqul Islam*, Kenichi Omori* and Tohru Yoshizuka ** Abstract : The study examines the current framework implementation of rural development policy and administrative pattern in Bangladesh. Majority of the people in Bangladesh live in ru- ral areas where problems of unemployment, inequality and poverty are common. Bangladesh has been undertaking rural development programs both at the government and non-government or- ganizational levels. However, within the existing framework, rural development policies and pov- erty reduction programs in Bangladesh have been unable to significantly benefit the target popu- lation. Though government and government agencies are playing an important complementary role in the rural development sector, their roles are not completely positive. To focus attention in development policy and action, this study identifies weaknesses and suggests potential areas for improvement in effective rural development in Bangladesh. Key words:１）Rural development，２）Government Policy，３）Administrative pattern （IDB，２００１）．Over８０percent of the people in Bangladesh I Introduction live in rural areas where problems of unemployment, inequal- ity and poverty are common （BARD, １９９６ and IFAD, In developing countries, rural areas remain outside the main- ２００１）． stream information channels, and the central government For Bangladesh, rural development is essential, because the authorities therefore have insufficient knowledge of their con- entire country is a large village with only６metropolitan cit- ditions （CIRDAP，２０００）．Furthermore, even when avail- ies and６４towns. Rural areas are the root of development for able, this information is not sufficiently utilized as a tool by developing countries like Bangladesh（Todaro, ２０００）. Bang- planners and decision-makers in formulating their national de- ladesh has been undertaking rural development programs both velopment plans. Despite rapid urbanization, for the next sev- at the government and non-government organizational levels. eral decades the majority of the world’s poor will remain in The programs have different sectoral and program components rural areas where the levels of poverty are typically greater. such as rural co-operatives, credit, irrigation, livestock, fish- Although there are some positive changes in respect of farm eries, rural industry, area development, infrastructural devel- productivity and rates of overall economic growth in some de- opment, input distributions and training. Each component, how- veloping countries, the extent of poverty, lack of land and un- ever, does not necessarily cover the entire rural regions but is employment has become increased in many developing coun- initiated in some selected areas. Within the existing framework, tries（Alain et al.,１９９９and FAO,１９９９）． rural development policies and current administration patterns In Bangladesh, growing attention has been paid to rural de- in Bangladesh have unable to significantly benefit the target velopment during the past two and half decades. The socio- population（BARD,１９９６and Rahman,１９９５）. To improve the economic milieu problems have prompted policy makers to effectiveness of rural development, it is necessary to conduct take up specific rural development programs to improve the study reviewing and current framework of rural development quality of life of the vast majority of rural poor who have not strategies in Bangladesh. Specifically, the study aims to - benefited from the general development programs ・Identify the weakness of rural development policy; ・Examine the current administrative patterns; *Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane Univer- ・Suggests potential areas, for improvement in effective ru- sity． ral development in Bangladesh. **Faculty of Policy Studies, The University of Shimane ２０ Bull. Fac. Life Env. Sci. Shimane Univ.,１０ The paper is structured as follows: Section one shows the and union levels. Various government agencies are also in- significance and objective of the study. Section two describes volved in rural development programs. The current study fo- the meaning and conditions for rural development. Section cused on three major government agencies, such as the Bang- three presents the study materials. Section four describes the ladesh Academy for Rural Development（BARD）, Bangladesh historical background and current framework of rural devel- Rural Development Board（BRDB）and Grameen Bank. opment policy in Bangladesh. Section five presents current Information for this study gathered from multiple sources. government administrative patterns and rural development Most data were collected from various administrative agencies bodies. Section six shows NGO intervention in rural devel- such as the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies opment. Section seven identifies the weaknesses of govern- （BIDS）, Ministry of Planning Commission, Bangladesh Bu- ment and concludes the discussions with some recommenda- reau of Statistic（BBS）and Bangladesh Rural Development tions. Board（BRDB）. The researcher also visited to the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific（CIR- II．The Meaning and Conditions for Rural Develop- DAP）headquarters to collect information. CIRDAP is an ment autonomous regional intergovernmental institution established There is no universally acceptable definition of rural devel- in１９７９by the countries of Asia and the Pacific region at the opment. Generally, the objective of rural development is im- initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization（FAO）of provement in the economic and social sectors. The main ob- the United Nations with support from the government of Ja- jective of rural development is to bring about overall improve- pan and the Swedish International Development Agency. ment in quality of life, both economic and social（Rahman, Various publications and study reports were also collected １９９５）. The concept of rural development is to improve the for this study. Several local government branch offices, and vicious situation of rural areas by a multi-sectoral approach their activities were observed. All the information gathered such as economic vitalization, employment increase, education, will be considered in forming an opinion about present and fu- health care and social welfare（CIRDAP,１９９７）.Ifthemajor ture prospects, and will also be used for policy and planning objective of rural and agricultural development in developing focus. countries, the following five components are necessary（To- daro, ２０００）: （１）Appropriate government economic poli- IV．The Evolution of Rural Development Policy in cies;（２）Modernizing farm structures especially land reform Bangladesh to meet rising food demands;（３）Supportive social institu- The history of modern rural development policy in Bangla- tions;（４）Creating an effective supporting system; and（５） desh may be divided into three periods, namely the British, Changing the rural environment to improve levels of living. Pakistan and Bangladesh periods. The present study focuses Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development （BARD, on the Bangladesh period. １９９６）agreed that the contemporary issues in the field of Ru- ral Development are:（１）Poverty alleviation;（２）Strength- １．British and Pakistan Periods ening rural infrastructure;（３）Decentralized decision making; Bangladesh was a part of British India for about two hun- （４）Increasing production and employment;（４）Modernizing dred years（１７５７‐１９４７）. The colonial rulers were primarily farm structure and land reform;（５）Development of human concerned with law and order, administration and revenue col- resource;（６）People’s Participation; and（７）Collaboration lection in the rural areas. During the second half of their rule, between government and NGO. some state interventions were made to redress the suffering of the rural people. The measures taken, through enactment III．Study Materials of certain laws, are reflected in the following legislation（IDB, The present study put emphasis on rural development strate- ２００１）: The Chowkidery Panchayet Act of１８７０;（２）Land gies in Bangladesh, and the role of government in those sec- Improvement Act of １８８３ ;（３）Agricultural Disaster Loan tors. Rural development programs in Bangladesh are mostly Act of１８８４;（４）Local Self-government Act of１８８５;（５） operated by the local government units such as district, thana Bengal Agricultural Debtors Act１９３５;and（６）Cooperatives Taufiqul Islam: Rural Development Policy and Administrative Patterns in Bangladesh: A Critical Review ２１ Societies Act１９１２,１９４０． ernment organization starting from village to the district level The legislation measures could not, however, improve the should have both vertical linkages and horizontal linkages with situation of rural areas. With the partition of India in August other organizations, viz. cooperatives. The Plan stressed the １９４７, Bangladesh became a part of Pakistan and remained so role of local government and local-level planning. The Second until independence was declared in１９７１. During this period, Plan also emphasized on food production and essential social several programs were introduced directed at rural develop- consumption such as mass literacy and basic health. ment. The first comprehensive program of rural development The Third Five Year Plan（１９８５‐９０）promised greater im- was planned and introduced in １９５４（BARD, １９９６）.Itwas pact and had a more realistic approach to poverty reduction,