RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH: MAJOR ISSUES REVISITED

This critical reassessment examines the major issues in rural development in Bangladesh during the mid-1980s, analyzing the persistent challenges and evolving strategies in addressing rural poverty and underdevelopment. The article explores the implementation experience of various rural development programs since independence and assesses their impact on different dimensions of rural life. The research investigates the structural constraints to rural development, including land tenure patterns, agricultural productivity limitations, infrastructure deficits, and institutional weaknesses. The study examines the impact of demographic pressures, environmental vulnerabilities, and economic transformations on rural development prospects. The article assesses the effectiveness of different institutional approaches to rural development, including government programs, non-governmental organization initiatives, and international development assistance. The research also evaluates emerging issues in rural development, including migration patterns, non-farm employment opportunities, and changing social dynamics. Furthermore, the analysis proposes integrated strategies for more effective and sustainable rural development in Bangladesh.

Rural development represented the central challenge for Bangladesh's overall development strategy, with this article providing a critical reassessment of major issues and approaches during the mid-1980s. The research begins by examining the historical context of rural development in Bangladesh, tracing the evolution of approaches from colonial agricultural policies through post-independence initiatives to contemporary integrated programs. The analysis explores the structural constraints to rural development, investigating how land tenure patterns, fragmented holdings, and insecure property rights limit agricultural productivity and rural investment. The article examines agricultural development challenges, analyzing the limitations of the Green Revolution model in Bangladeshi conditions and the emerging concerns about input dependence, environmental sustainability, and equity implications. The study assesses rural infrastructure development, examining progress and persistent gaps in transportation, irrigation, electricity, and communication networks that affect rural economic opportunities. The research evaluates poverty alleviation programs, including targeted interventions, safety nets, and employment generation schemes designed to address extreme poverty and vulnerability. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article identifies both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities in rural development and proposes an integrated framework that addresses production, employment, infrastructure, and social development dimensions. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex challenges of rural transformation in densely populated, resource-constrained environments and contribute to understanding how integrated approaches can address multiple dimensions of rural underdevelopment.