In defense of land rights: A monitoring report on land conflicts in six Asian countries 46 Bangladesh Land Conflict Monitoring Report1 By Md. Mahamudul Haque, Community Development Association (CDA) INTRODUCTION Project and study background M anagement of land and natural resources is one of the most critical challenges facing developing countries like Bangladesh. The exploitation of high-value natural resources has often been reported as a key factor in triggering, escalating, or sustaining violent conflicts around the globe. Increasing competition and conflict for diminishing land and natural resources is on the rise, and creates new challenges such as: environmental degradation, population growth, and climate change, which contribute to new conflicts and obstruct the peaceful resolution of existing ones. Disputes over land are one of the reasons behind numerous human rights violations, conflicts, and violence. Incidences of harassments, tortures, killings, and rape of women and girls, and many other human rights violations by land grabbers are common in many countries, including Bangladesh. A proper and regular land monitoring mechanism is essential for effective action against land grabbers and protection of rights defenders. 1 ANGOC This is an abridged version of the paper “Bangladesh Land Conflict Monitoring Report” prepared by the Community Development Association (CDA) for the project “Defending Land Rights and Human Rights Defenders.” For more information, contact edcda08@gmail.com. Citation: Haque, M. (2018). Bangladesh Land Conflict Monitoring Report. In ANGOC (Ed.) In defense of land rights: A monitoring report of land conflicts in six Asian countries (pp. 46-57). Quezon City: ANGOC.