This was revealed at the inaugural session of a three-day workshop on 'Development of a National Policy on Involuntary Resettlement' organised by the Ministry of Land and Asian Development Bank (ADB) under a technical assistance project at Brac Centre Inn in the city yesterday.

"Formulation of a national policy will help minimise the sufferings of the displaced people," said Law, Information and Land Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the workshop.

Several million people who are working in garments, construction, transport and other sectors in the city are living a hazardous life, he said, adding that many of them are subjected to river erosion and flood.

"We proposed for a national policy on involuntary resettlement for permanent solution to the housing problem of urban poor," said Mainul.

On the amendment to Land Acquisition Ordinance, he said there are some limitations of the ordinance with regard to compensation.

"We only pay cash for the acquisition of land when we take up any development projects, but we should also look at its human aspect," he added.

According to a primary study of the ADB, the executive instruction under the ordinance for resettlement of displaced people is ignored for domestic funded projects, and there is no policy to enforce resettlement of the affected people with adequate compensation and measures for income and livelihood.

The development projects funded by the donor agencies however incorporate resettlement of people who are displaced due to projects, the study added.

Chairing the session, Secretary to land ministry Mosleh Uddin said such policy is very important because cash compensation to displaced people actually does not help them meaningfully.

"The displaced people suffer much. They lose their language, culture, livelihoods," he said, adding any development projects should have acquisition plan in one hand and resettlement plan on the other.

Speaking as special guest, ADB Country Director Hua Du said the bank and other development agencies have safeguard policies that set broad principles to minimise displacement and require time-bound action plans to restore or improve incomes of those unavoidably affected people through project development.

"Lack of timely land acquisition and resettlement has often slowed down project implementation significantly. The impacts of such delays are enormous," she added.

ADB will provide further assistance to the government for the implementation of involuntary resettlement policy once it is approved, Hua Du said, adding that such a policy will solve many of the contemporary problems in the field of resettlement.

Team leader of the Technical Assistance Project Dr Mohammad Zaman said they are now discussing the issue with various stakeholders to prepare a draft policy by the next month.

Pius Costa, joint secretary to land ministry, also spoke on the occasion.