40 bighas ceiling proposed on non-agri land possession

Staff Reporter :
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said that the Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act 2021 has been sent to the Cabinet Division for next action with provision of considering illegal land occupation as a criminal offense and providing appropriate penalties and fines in this regard.
He also said that the government has, for the first time, made a provision to keep a ceiling on non-agricultural land as well, keeping in mind the scarcity of land in Bangladesh. Initially, 40 bighas ceiling (upper limit) is proposed in the Land Ownership and Uses Act.
The land minister said this while addressing the Deputy Commissioners Conference 2023 held in Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today as the chief guest at the working session of the
Land Ministry. Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain chaired the session. Land Secretary Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman PAA, Land Appeal Board Chairman A K M Shamimul Huq Siddique, Land Reform Board Chairman Md Abu Bakr Siddique, Land Record and Survey Department DG Md. Abdul Barik, and senior officials of the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Land, and its departments were present at the session.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said that the Land Ownership and Uses Act will have such provision so that the maximum limit of non-agricultural land would not become an obstacle for setting up large industries. In this case, the government can grant permission to set up industries in excess of the upper limit of non-agricultural land on a special application.
The draft of the Land Ownership and Uses Act, aimed at protecting agricultural land, providing for the maximum limit of non-agricultural land, food security, and reducing the harmful effects of climate change, will also be sent to the Cabinet Division next week.
The land minister also added that the draft of the Land Crime Act has been prepared with the thought ‘dalil jaar jomi taar’ – meaning the land belongs to the ones who have deeds. No matter how many years one forcibly occupies a piece of land, the ownership of an illegal occupant without proper documents will never be recognised under this act. After the enactment of the law, the harassment related to land grabbing will be reduced significantly.
Land documents mean the relevant documents including deed registration documents, Records of Rights, and related documents. The agricultural land ceiling is 60 bigha. After the scrutiny of the Cabinet Division, the process of sending the draft of these two laws to parliament for making laws will begin.