Land Use Planning in Bangladesh

Contents: Preface to the revised second edition and first edition. Foreword. Publisher\'s note. Abbreviation and acronyms. 1. Land, people and the economy. 2. The land resources of Bangladesh. 3. Land management problems and issues. 4. Land use regulation at local level. 5. Sanctioning of development plans. 6. Role of judiciary in planning system. 7. Regulation and restrictions of land development. 8. Planning perspectives for the 21st century. Epilogue. Selected bibliography. Index.

"Land and water are the two most important resources of Bangladesh and are popularly believed to be free gifts of nature. But with a total population of about 140 million in an area of only 55,000 square miles the density is already around 1700 persons per square mile. Almost the whole of the cultivable land is now under the plough leaving practically no land for further expansion. He strongly argues for adoption of a comprehensive national land use policy and uniform and effective planning laws to ensure economic, efficient and intensive use of land to meet national requirements both in the urban and rural sectors. He also pleads for enacting a comprehensive legislation for physical planning and land use regulation rationalizing all existing disparate laws dealing with land use, building control, city and town planning activities. The presentation has throughout been lucid, systematic and analytical.

This Book, besides influencing policy planning, will also be found highly useful and instructive by national and local government administrators and planners, teachers, students and researchers in the relevant field and those generally interested in the problems of land use planning in Bangladesh. The author deserves congratulations for raising such an important issue at a very appropriate time." (jacket)