Unraveling Rural Land Conflicts in Bangladesh: Stakeholders, Power Dynamics, and Paths to Resolution

Abstract

Conflicts over rural land have plagued Bangladesh since its independence. Rural land issues continue to remain unresolved, and violence related to land is still on the rise. The investigation of those engaged in these disputes and the dynamics of their relationships, however, has received very little attention. The current study maps those involved in land conflicts and their relational interplay in the context of rural Bangladesh. The study utilizes qualitative methods of data collection, including KII interviews, focus group discussions, and expert interviews. Through purposive sampling, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions involved a group of relevant stakeholders in land conflicts in the study areas who provided needed information, ideas, and insights on land issues in the area. The study finds that the power structure of the village affects benefit distribution and the resolution of land disputes. Local political leaders and “Matbors” have an impact on how disputes are resolved. Law enforcement authorities are ineffective at resolving violent conflicts, and corrupt land office staff are also of no help, prolonging such conflicts. The study recommends implementing empathy-building workshops, digitizing the land management system, and improving the judicial process to reduce disputes among stakeholders in rural Bangladesh.