A theoretical framework is required to analyse land acquisition process in the country so that the difference between relations of production and accumulative process can be detected in a qualitative and analytical manner, said Professor Shapan Adnan.
He also said the government, in the name of public interest and using its utmost power, acquires land from general people to lease it to commercial or private organisations which in many cases do not follow ethical practices.
Mr Adnan, an associate of the Contemporary South Asian Studies Programme of the University of Oxford, was addressing as the keynote speaker at the special plenary session-2 of the three-day 20th Biennial Conference-2017 of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA).
The session titled 'Economics and Ethics: Political Economy of Land Grabbing in Bangladesh' was held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) in the city's Kakrail.
Former Bangladesh Bank (BB) governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed presided over the session.
Delivering the keynote speech, Mr Adnan said land property is usually grabbed by influential organisations and individuals that specially affect the fragile and poverty-stricken people of the society.
He said land grabbing creates discrimination in asset distribution raising poverty levels; and in general, land grabbing can be considered unethical.
Mentioning that the government takes possession of land in two methods - acquisition and securitisation, he said despite there being acts and laws to acquire land and compensate the owners, the state organs related to these processes violet the rules and regulations in some cases.
He said many people get displaced from their lands when the government acquires land for establishing special economic zones (SEZs) in the country.
"So, it is important to assess or conduct a study to find out how many people will get displaced due to establishment of proposed 100 SEZs and economic impacts of the process", Mr Adnan added.
Speaking at the programme, former the BB governor said land grabbing by different quarters has been increasing alarmingly while arable land has been lessening and the number of farmers is also declining as a consequence.
Referring to Land Titling Process of Thailand, he said general people can get relief from the harassment they face in land-related issues through digitisation of land record system in the country.
Many of the government and private organisations take possession of more land than they need, he said, adding, "For instance, many of the organisations acquire 40 to 50 bighas of land while they might need only one or two bighas."
Mr Ahmed also said while lands have been acquired for SEZs, many of the industrial plots allotted to Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) remain unused for long.
These lands should be used efficiently, he added.
Speaker of the National Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury inaugurated the biennial conference of BEA earlier the day as the chief guest which will continue till December 23 (Saturday).
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