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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 20, 2006


                              CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.
                              ---------------------
               (Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Charter)


 MASSACHUSETTS                      0-25251                     04-3447594
- --------------                      -------                     ----------
(State Or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission                  (IRS Employer
 Of Incorporation)                File Number)              Identification No.)


              399 HIGHLAND AVENUE, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS 02144
      --------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address Of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 628-4000
                                                           --------------


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
     (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


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ITEM 8.01   OTHER EVENTS.
            -------------

      On April 20, 2006, Central Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release announcing that its Board of Directors declared its regular quarterly
cash dividend of eighteen ($0.18)cents per share, payable on May 19, 2006, to
stockholders of record as of May 5, 2006.  A copy of the press release is
attached to this Report as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
           ----------------------------------

      (d)   Exhibits

            Number      Description
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            99.1        Press Release dated April 20, 2006








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                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                    CENTRAL BANCORP, INC.



Date:  April 20, 2006               By: /s/ Paul S. Feeley
                                       --------------------------------
                                       Paul S. Feeley
                                       Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
                                       Chief Financial Officer