Release of Privately Owned Land from Forest Department Gazette in Gazipur is Urgently Needed

With Bangladesh’s steady progress in development, the importance of effective land management is increasing day by day.

However, long-standing irregularities, errors in documentation, and administrative complexities in this sector have become a major source of suffering for ordinary citizens.

In various parts of Gazipur district, privately owned lands being recorded and gazetted under the Forest Department have created a complex and distressing situation, now widely regarded as a serious public concern.

Gazipur, a rapidly growing industrial hub adjacent to the capital Dhaka, has witnessed a sharp rise in land demand. Industrialization, housing projects, and infrastructure development have significantly increased the value and importance of land.

In such a context, any complication regarding land ownership deeply affects people’s lives. Recently, it has been observed that many individuals, despite possessing valid documents and long-standing possession, have had their lands recorded under the Forest Department.

As a result, they are unable to exercise ownership rights, sell or develop their land, and in many cases, are even facing threats of eviction.

In Gazipur, privately owned lands have reportedly been mistakenly included in RS records and subsequently gazetted under the Forest Department, leading to multiple complications.

Landowners are unable to enjoy or utilize their property without hindrance. Attempts to construct houses or other structures are often obstructed by the Forest Department.

Furthermore, landowners are unable to transfer or sell their land, nor can they access bank loans. Even the government is not collecting land development tax (revenue) from these lands.

To address these issues, affected landowners have organized human chains, rallies, and press conferences. On Sunday (April 19), a press conference was held in the Keowa Bazar area of Sreepur Upazila by the affected residents and various social organizations.

It was stated that, under the pretext of Section 20 of the Forest Act of 1927, processes such as mutation, transfer, and tax collection for privately owned lands have remained suspended for a long time.

As a result, thousands of people are facing severe hardship. They cannot build homes on their own land, and all forms of land-related transactions are effectively halted.

The victims have demanded the immediate release of privately owned land from the Forest Department’s gazette. It was also highlighted that in many cases, privately owned lands are included within the same plot numbers as forest lands.

Despite possessing valid records and documentation, landowners are unable to pay taxes, while the Forest Department continues to pay revenue for its portion of the same plot—an evident disparity.

The affected individuals presented a three-point demand: repeal or relaxation of the controversial 2006 directive from the Ministry of Land; ensuring the constitutional rights of landowners to possession, mutation, and tax payment; and resumption of all revenue-related activities for lands not included in the final gazette notification.

On April 1, Gazipur-3 Member of Parliament SM Rafiqul Islam raised this issue in the National Parliament, demanding the release of privately owned land from the Forest Department’s gazette.

This matter is not merely an administrative confusion; it directly impacts citizens’ rights, economic security, and social stability.

Gazette notification is a serious administrative process through which the state classifies land and establishes control over it. Forest conservation is undoubtedly a vital national responsibility. It plays a critical role in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and combating climate change.

However, if such initiatives are implemented without proper verification, they can lead to significant public suffering.

Lands that have been correctly recorded under CS, SA, and RS records in the names of individuals should allow owners to freely exercise their rights, including transfer, mutation, and payment of land development tax. Immediate government action and official notification are necessary in this regard.

The root of this problem lies primarily in weaknesses in land surveys and record management. Bangladesh’s land system has evolved through multiple surveys—CS, SA, RS, and more recently, digital surveys.

Discrepancies among these records and lack of timely updates have often led to incorrect ownership classification. In Gazipur, it is alleged that during forest expansion efforts, privately owned lands were included under the Forest Department without proper field verification and subsequently gazetted.

Another critical issue is the lack of coordination among relevant authorities. The absence of effective collaboration between the Ministry of Land and the Forest Department has resulted in overlapping claims over the same land. Consequently, ordinary citizens are left confused about the true ownership of their property—whether it belongs to the state, the Forest Department, or themselves.

The implications of this issue go beyond paperwork. In many cases, landowners are unable to secure bank loans due to the presence of the Forest Department’s name in land records. Efforts to construct homes are obstructed by administrative barriers, severely affecting livelihoods.

Moreover, the situation is giving rise to social unrest. Conflicts between landowners and the Forest Department are increasing, sometimes leading to deterioration in law and order. Influential local groups are also exploiting the situation for personal gain, further complicating the issue.

To resolve this crisis, a transparent and accurate land survey is essential. Modern technologies such as digital mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to determine the exact location and ownership of land, significantly reducing the chances of errors.

Effective coordination between the Ministry of Land and the Forest Department must be established. A joint task force can be formed to verify disputed lands, and where private ownership is proven, prompt correction of records should be ensured.

A simplified and time-bound grievance redress mechanism is also necessary. Prolonged legal procedures make it extremely difficult for ordinary citizens to seek justice. Establishing special tribunals or fast-track courts could expedite the resolution process.

Public awareness is equally important. Many people fail to update their land records regularly or remain unaware of survey processes, which lead them into complications. Awareness campaigns through media and local administration can help mitigate this issue.

This problem should not be viewed merely as an administrative error; it is also a humanitarian and economic crisis. A family that invests its life savings in purchasing land faces severe psychological distress when its ownership is questioned. Ensuring a prompt and effective resolution is therefore a moral responsibility of the state.

The situation in Gazipur serves as a warning for the entire country. Without timely intervention, similar crises may arise elsewhere. A strong, transparent, and accountable land management system is essential for a developing nation like Bangladesh. This requires political will, administrative efficiency, and active public participation.

The problem has been identified. What is needed now is decisive action. The government must urgently verify privately owned lands in Gazipur and ensure their release from the Forest Department’s gazette, while also implementing long-term measures to prevent such administrative errors in the future.

(The writer is a Teacher, Poet, Columnist, Social Worker and Organizer, Joint Secretary General, Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA), Central Committee, 70 Kakrail, Dhaka, E-mail: [email protected])