The publication ceremony of a research book titled 'Development as Conscientization: The case of Nijera Kori in Bangladesh' was held at the Academy for Planning and Development in the city yesterday.

The book written by Prof Abul Barkat, Prof Sadeka Halim, Avijit Poddar, Asmar Osman and Badiuzzaman would be very useful for development activists, students and people involved in the development process, speakers at the function said.

Prof Anisur Rahman, Dr Rounaq Jahan, Dr Hameeda Hossain, Lt Gen (retd) Harun-ar-Rashid and Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, spoke at the ceremony chaired by Prof Rehman Sobhan, chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). Nijera Kori organised the event.

Presenting the key aspects of the book, Prof Abul Barkat said conscientization refers to a learning process which identifies social, political and economical disparities as well as shows a path of learning-based approach to overcoming disparities.

He also said they rejected the definition of development set up by the mainstream economists.

Per capita income can never be an actual indicator of development, he said, adding that real human development is a pro-independence process, which includes political, economic and social independence, assurance of transparency and security.

, Prof Barkat said they conducted , the rpsearch in 16 yjUages, under, four 1 upa?pas in the J^iep divisions --Dhaka. Chittagong and Khulna.