Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
It is a matter of regret that egalitarianism has not been established in Bangladesh in spite various economic and social measures adopted through planning. Agricultural development and technological changes in the industrial sector have accentuated inequalities in both rural and urban societies. Industrial growth has encourage concentration of wealth and economic power in a few hands and has also given rise to corruptions and nepotism in some powerful sections leaving the general mass, particularly in villages in poverty and illiteracy. Agriculture continues to be the focus of economic growth but the logic of unfavorable land-man ratio and the geographical concentration of industries has prevented share prosperity and balanced regional development. Regional development in industries and economic growth accompanied by the extension of educational facilities and employment opportunities in the rural areas is of crucial importance for removing imbalances and inequalities.
In rural areas, revision of the Land Acquisition Act and comprehensive food security system must be accompanied by dry land farming which accounts for 73 percent of the cultivated area in Bangladesh. Agricultural experts believe that this form of cultivation holds great promise in increasing the country’s food grains output. It needs to be remembered that even after full exploitation of the irrigation potential available, 50 percent of Bangladeshs’ cultivable land would still depend on rains. Hence, an understanding of rainfall patterns and land characteristic is crucial for optimizing the use of available water for dry land crops. Chemical treatment of land for conservation of moisture available to crops and proper water and land management are essential for dry land farming which may contribute to the agricultural productivity and consequent income distribution in the rural areas. It has to be seen that agricultural prosperity is evenly distributed and the consequent increase in the purchasing power of the farming community may be utilized for playing a supportive role for industrial advance in the villages.
There are various programmes for rural development: The community Development programme, Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA), The Marginal Farmers loan programmes, and Agricultural Labour’s Agency (MFALA), The Drought-prone Area programme , The Command Area Development Project (CADP), Intensive Agricultural Programme etc. The effect of these programmes has been tangential. There have been duplications of schemes and programmes under different names. Frequent changes in schemes result in wasteful expenditure and the lack of expertise and management skill together with corrupt practices fails to achieve the desired target of progress. Various programmes have to be integrated for optimum utilization of local endowments and meeting local needs. Voluntary agencies have a definite role to play. There are many voluntary agencies in Bangladesh actively associated with rural development. Interest, initiative and active participation of the local people can make the programmes successful. The people should be made aware of the need for development, necessary skills should be imported and essential inputs should be made available so that the programmes for rural development may not be mere pious wishes and paper plans but be harnessed to the improvement of the lot of the villagers. Local Government system should be broad based with emphasis on social accountability and voluntary action at grass root levels. It has been decided that planning should start from the village with the full participation of the villagers.
But education is the major component of any village upliftment. No programme can be successful unless poverty is banished and ignorance is done away within the villages. Compulsory free primary education for all is of immediate necessity. Backward areas need financial and organizational support for extension of education facilities for boys and girls alike. But political interests and unnecessary bureaucratic interference shall delay the event and uniform distribution and development of these facilities where they are needed most.
But, before everything the most important thing is the question of the change of outlook. Educated men and rich people must be persuaded to go back to villages. There is enough manpower in villages. All that is necessary is intelligent guidance. If properly guided the villagers can and will work miracles.
Rural development in our country has various aspects. The most important of them are agriculture, primary and secondary education, means of communication, sanitation and health, cottage industries, fishery, co-operative societies, community life etc. Majority People of Bangladesh live in villages. So development of Bangladesh means the development of her villages.
