2024-04-05 14:45:37
Lands Minister Narayan Chandra Chand said that agricultural land is not only a crop production area. Farmland is the lifeblood of our economy and the foundation of our food security.
He said these things in the inter-ministerial meeting regarding the finalization of the Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024 (Draft) in the meeting room of the Land Ministry on Thursday (April 4).
Land Secretary at the meeting. Khalilur Rahman, chairman of land reform board. Abdus Sabur Mandal, Land Appeal Board Chairman AKM Shamimul Haque Siddiqui, Land Records and Survey Directorate Director General Anis Mahmood were present. Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Land Law Branch. Khalilur Rahman presented the draft law.
The Land Minister said that the Prime Minister considered it necessary to enact strong laws to protect valuable resources like land to face the challenges posed by climate change and rapid industrialization and urbanization. For this, under his guidance, the Ministry of Lands has taken the plan of enacting the Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024. This Act will play an important role in implementing Smart Bangladesh, achieving Bangladesh’s Sustainable Development Goals and facilitating long-term delta planning.
He said the purpose of the proposed Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024 is to prevent unplanned urbanization, construction of housing, industries and roads; Protecting the environment and continuing the production of food grains while maintaining the class or nature of the land; Ensuring planned and optimal use of land including protection of agricultural land, forest land, hills, hills, rivers, canals and water bodies and ensuring state discipline in optimal use of land through planned zoning ensuring land use.
The Minister reiterated the Government’s steadfast commitment to ensure sustainable land management and equitable utilization of land resources. Addressing the representatives of various ministries present at the time, the minister said, “We are almost close to finalizing the draft of a groundbreaking law.” Necessary updates have already been made to the initial draft based on open feedback.
Narayan Chandra Chand said, since the Act, if enacted, will have a positive impact on almost all sectors, directly or indirectly, we are calling for valuable views of the various ministries concerned. I am hopeful that the final draft legislation, based on the input received by all, will contribute to promoting agricultural prosperity, strengthening food security and protecting our environment.
The Land Secretary said, the main provisions of this Act include precise classification of land into distinct zones based on geographical features, topography and intended use.
The secretary said that based on the opinions of everyone including experts, 10 classifications have been proposed for land zoning in the draft law. These are – arable, residential, commercial, wetlands, rivers, forests, hills, roads, industrial and religious sites.
The Land Secretary requested the representatives of all concerned ministries to send their final opinion in writing on the Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024 (Draft) within this month in accordance with the basic spirit of the proposed law.
The meeting was also attended by Chief Technical Expert of National Land Zoning Project former Senior Secretary Dilwar Bakht, Land Policy Specialist former Grade-1 officer Md. Hannan Mia along with officials of the Ministry of Lands and its affiliated offices/organizations and projects. Representatives of more than 22 ministries and departments including the cabinet department were present in the meeting.