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 ffRural Infrastructure Development

1. By prior selection of the infrastructure development needs and outline for every area of the country,
the village plan book, the union plan book and the Upazila plan book will be prepared and kept updated.

2. In the case of undertaking and implementing infrastructure development project in every

development area, priorities indicated in the periodical rolling plan will be followed.

3. Use of agricultural land, especially land having irrigation facilities will be discouraged for non-
agricultural purposes.

4. In case of new establishment and development of road communication, priority will be given to link
roads with growth centers, Union Parishads, Upazila Parishad and also link roads connecting the nearest
districts and highways.

5. The implementation and financing of flood control and all other natural calamities control projects
and agricultural infrastructure development projects will get priority over the projects.

6. Scheduled periodic maintenance of roads and other physical infrastructure will be emphasized.

 Rural Health Services and Nutrition Development:

1. Both men and women, in all stages of the life-cycle will be ensured access to physical and
mental health services, and their health and nutrition awareness will be raised through training
to be imparted by relevant institutions and organizations.
2. To control diseases in the rural areas, special emphasis will be given to the extension of supply
of safe water and modern sanitation.
3. Homeopathic and herbal treatment like Unani and Ayurbedic being less expensive will be
encouraged for expansion.
4. Community Clinics are making substantial contributions to health and family welfare in rural
areas. Rural doctors will also be employed in strengthening rural health service.

 Development of Rural Housing:

1. Construction of building, new settlement etc. on cultivable agricultural land will be
discouraged, and measures for planned construction of houses will be taken.
2. Research for innovation and development of technologies of low cost housing for rural areas
will be undertaken.
3. In the villages, residential area and cultivable area will be separately demarcated wherever
possible for more profitable use of agricultural land and for facilitating improved technology-
based cultivation
4. Initiatives will be taken for expansion of planned infrastructure on priority basis in the
residential areas.
5.Prior to new settlement in village areas, especially in island and char areas, necessary layout
design has to be done.
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 Weaknesses of Rural Development Programmes in

Bangladesh:
From an analysis of the past experiences in rural development efforts, a number of major
problems can be identified which frustrated the successful performance of such efforts. The
major problems include instability of rural development institutions, inefficient and corrupt
leadership, abuse of local government institutions by the central regimes, lack of an articulated
rural development policy, inequitable distribution of benefits arising out of the rural
development programmes, limited natural and logistic resources, elite dominance in rural
development planning and action, and an inconducive rural society. The general characteristics
of the rural socio-economic structure of Bangladesh pose a challenge to effective
implementation of rural development schemes. The characteristics include low level of capital
formulation, dependence of the economy on agriculture, lack of skilled and educated
manpower, unemployment, inflation, ever increasing dependence on foreign assistance, rapid
population growth, rural political factionalism and instability, frequent natural disasters,
underdeveloped market and fiscal institutions, and investment in unproductive sectors.

 Steps to be taken for Rural Development:

1. At first, educated and skilled people should change their attitude regarding rural area. It is
impossible to enhance effort for rural development if literate and skilled people do not want to
go back to the village and work for village people.

2. No development work will be effective if the rural people remain illiterate. So, we have to
overcome illiteracy problem as soon as possible.

3. More standard health facilities have to be given to the rural people. At the same time,
malnutrition has to be removed, because sound health is the precondition of development.

4. Micro-credit facilities should be increased. If this can be ensured, village people will be able to
run small-scale business and cottage industies.

5. The government should establish mor technical and vocational institutes to make the village
people skilled in the concerned field. Mass media like the TV, radio, newspapers etc. can play
important role in this respect.

6. Government should supply modern technology at a cheap rate among the rural people and
encourage them to use it. Specially, agro-based instuments have to be modernised.

7. To ensure sustainable development comprehensive development programme should be

taken.
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 Conclusion:
Rural development has been the core focus of the government policy, strategy
and programs after Independence of Bangladesh. The rural sector was strategic
to the country’s economic growth, social and political development. The sector
was crucial in providing the agricultural labour and output to the country; while
the high incidence of poverty that characterised the sector posed a major threat
to the social and political stability of the nation. Side by side with perceptible
development of rural infrastructure, comprehensive rural development including
creating of a positive mind-set in rural people, augmentation of their income and
improvement in their quality of life is a crucial need. The Rural Development
Policy commits to create self-confident, determined and promising people
through activating in them the power of the self and displacing the mentality to
depend on others and charity. To achieve this end, first of all, emphasis has been
laid on enabling the local govt. institutions with befitting training so that they
become effective, skilled and efficient, and play their-role as facilitators in
making people willing to undertake self-initiated innovative works. In this regard,
necessary reforms will be needed with a view to activating local govt. and
general administration for creation of an enabling environment and facilitation
of development. Government need to work out well-defined policies and
objectives at the national level, and firm and full commitment of those at the
top-most rung of policy-making will be required for implementing them. These
policies and objectives as well as the good intention to implement them need to
be reflected up to the lowest level and in this regard, what may be considered an
essential pre-condition is to undertake well-thought-out and highly calculated
programmes and actions. This policy offers an outline of integration of efforts of
people, people’s representatives, all govt. departments, ministries, agencies and
all other supportive forces. It is expected that rural development as visualized in
the constitution could be made a solid reality in the quickest possible time given
that poverty alleviation endeavours are made in a planned and concerted
manner in earnest pursuance of the policy.
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 References
1. Ahmed, S. (1986) “Implementation of second five year plan and an outline of third
plan of Bangladesh”, Ministry of Planning, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
2. https://www.importantindia.com/22035/rural-development/
3. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) (2003) “Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh”,
Statistics Division, Dhaka: Ministry of Planning.
4. Hossain, M. and B. Sen (1992) “Rural poverty in Bangladesh: Trends and
determinants”, Vol. Asian Development Review, Vol. 10(1), pp. 134.
5. https://www.academia.edu/4928871/Rural_development_in_bangladesh
6. https://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/linking-rural-development-sdgs-786703 .
7. https://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/Rural-Development/27380
8. https://www.slideshare.net/sahedkhan3/rural-development-programs-in-
bangladesh
9. https://www.bb.org.bd/mediaroom/circulars/acd/jul212014acfid01e.pdf
10. https://plandiv.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/plandiv.portal.gov.bd/publicati
ons/f4a4e6c4_e1c4_48fe_bbc0_c554b8d420bb/MYPIP-LGRD.pdf
11. https://smallpdf.com/result#r=7bce601030f7d87e920c57bdc6a9876f&t=pdf-to-
word
12. http://bbs.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bbs.portal.gov.bd/page/b343a8b4_
956b_45ca_872f_4cf9b2f1a6e0/SPARS_Final_BBS_Rev_090817.pdf
13. http://e-village.com.bd/
14. http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bangladesh.gov.bd/policy/9
8896a22_df81_4a82_b70c_24125dec56d7/Bangladesh-Population-Policy-2012.pdf
15. https://www.thedailystar.net/digital-villages-for-digital-bangladesh-15977
16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Local_Government,_Rural_Development
_and_Co-operatives
17. https://myallgarbage.blogspot.com/2019/08/rural-development-in-bangladesh.html
18. https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-195126
19. https://www.academia.edu/36412627/National_Rural_Development_Policy_-
2001_Rural_Development_and_Cooperatives_Division_Government_of_the_People
s_Republic_of_Bangladesh.
20. http://www.bangladesh.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/bangladesh.gov.bd/page/6d
ca6a2a_9857_4656_bce6_139584b7f160/Perspective-Plan-of-Bangladesh.pdf.
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Contents:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. History of Rural Development of Bangladesh.
3. Objective of the study.
4. Methodology.
5. Definition of Rural Development.
6. The Objectives of Rural Development.
7. Indicators of Rural Development.
8. Specific Targets of Rural Development.
9. Dimensions of Rural Development.
10.Rural development through Agriculture.
11.Digital villages for digital Bangladesh.
12.Population and Family Welfare.
13.Youth Development Rural development through credit programme.
14.The Role of NGO’s in Rural Development.
15.Rural development and Education.
16. Rural Development through ICT program.
17.Entrepreneurship as an economic force in rural development.
18.Development of rural areas through industries.
19.Development of transportation systems.
20.Rural Infrastructure Development
21.Rural Health Services and Nutrition Development:
22.Development of Rural Housing:
23.Weaknesses of Rural Development Programmes in Bangladesh .
24.Steps to be taken for Rural Development.
25. Conclusion.
26.References.