DEVELOPMENT–HUMAN SECURITY NEXUS: A Study on Padma Bridge Resettlement Area

Drawing on surveys, qualitative interviews and field observation in the Padma Bridge resettlement sites, this book tests the proposition that development outcomes and human security are co-determined when households are involuntarily displaced by mega-infrastructure. It situates Bangladesh’s largest bridge project within the literature on resettlement, compensation, and restoration of livelihoods, and maps how the “capabilities approach” and SDGs translate into concrete indicators—income diversification, access to services, women’s agency, safety and social cohesion. The authors track pre- and post-displacement baselines, documenting gains in market access and non-farm employment for some households, alongside uneven recovery for vulnerable groups, especially female-headed households and informal workers. They analyze institutional arrangements—Resettlement Action Plans, grievance redress mechanisms, and local government interface—and assess the adequacy and timeliness of compensation and the quality of social infrastructure in new settlements. Findings highlight the importance of last-mile services (transport, water, schooling, health), financial inclusion, and targeted skilling to convert geographic connectivity into human security. Policy chapters propose adaptive cash-plus models, community oversight, and interoperable social registries to prevent slippage. The book contributes a replicable framework for measuring human-security outcomes in large projects and offers a grounded, Bangladesh-specific evidence base for future infrastructure governance.