Abstract
In considering overseas rural development, full understanding of the uniqueness in indigenous development in the area is essential. This study hilights some issues regarding the uniqueness in development in Bangladesh. In the huge Ben-gal delta with very gentle slope, large-scale canal irrigation and drainage project is hardly applicable. Even with accepting the flooding in the rainy season as it is, substantial agricultural development is possible at village-level tak-ing the advantage of local different environmental conditions, especially of hydrogical conditions. The society in Bang-ladesh can be characterized as “individualistic” and “order-oriented” on the basis of vertically-organized society, re-flecting its unique village community and social relationships in the community. This study suggests that the above characterestics of the region should be properly reflected in politics of rural development and local government's res-tructuring to better deal with local unique issues and problems.
