Distribution of khas land key to agri dev

The national seminar styled 'Political parties' pledge to include issues of land and agricultural reform in their manifestoes' was organised by Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra (BSK) at the Women's Voluntary Association auditorium in the city.

In a message to the seminar, Chairman of Unnayan Shamannoy Atiur Rahman said any meaningful change in the poor and ultra-poor's life is not possible without exhaustive land and agricultural reforms.

"But our political parties do not pick up their [poor people's] issues and launch any movement," he lamented.

BSK President Nurul Anwar came up with elaborate data on the country's khas land and said if 12 lakh acre of arable khas land is distributed among the landless and marginalised peasants, rural poverty would be alleviated to a large extent.

Prof Shafique-uz-Zaman of Dhaka University said while most of the developed countries had effected their land reforms, lawmakers here are always disinterested in land and agricultural reforms because they and their men have grabbed the khas lands.

BSK President Nurul Anwar moderated the seminar where Deputy Director of SAMATA Ayub Hossain, Executive Director of ALRD Shamsul Huda and General Secretary of Bangladesh Krishak Samity Morshed were also present.