The Ministry of Land has formulated a draft proposal for a landmark law called 'Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024'.
The draft of the said law has been uploaded on the official portal of the Ministry of Land for public and stakeholder comments that can be sent via email or letter.
The proposed law comes in the wake of the pressure of an increasing population, the constantly changing nature and class use of land due to unplanned urbanization, construction of housing, construction of houses, development works, setting up industries, construction of roads, and natural reasons.
Again, the amount of agricultural land for the production of food crops is gradually decreasing due to the destruction of agricultural land, forests, hillocks, hills, and water bodies in vast areas of the country adversely affecting the environment.
The purpose of this law is to prevent unplanned urbanization, housing, construction of houses, development activities, and construction of industries and roads; To protect the environment and continue the production of food crops while maintaining the class or nature of the land; To ensure planned and optimum use of land including protection of agricultural land, forests, hillocks, hills, rivers, canals, and water bodies; And ensuring the use of land and ensuring state discipline in the best use of land through planned zoning.
Key provisions of the Act include the meticulous categorization of land into distinct zones based on geographical characteristics, topography, and intended use. Through the utilization of cutting-edge technologies and on-the-ground assessments, the government is developing digital land zoning maps, providing a clear blueprint for planned development across the nation.
Name of the ongoing project under the Ministry of Land concerned with the preparation of the Land Zoning Map is 'Mouza and plot-based National Digital Land Zoning Project'.
Of paramount importance is the protection of agricultural land, which serves as the backbone of Bangladesh's economy and food security. The Act includes stringent measures to safeguard fertile soils from unauthorized conversion, ensuring that they remain dedicated to sustainable food crop production.
Additionally, special provisions are outlined for the preservation of ecologically sensitive areas such as wetlands, forests, and river systems, recognizing their critical role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.
The draft law proposes 10 classifications for land zoning. These are arable, residential, commercial, wetlands, rivers, forests, hills, roads, industrial and religious places.
For the implementation, regulation, monitoring, and updating of the regulations, the proposed law proposes the establishment of a dedicated unit under the Ministry of Land. This institutional mechanism will streamline governance processes, facilitate coordinated planning efforts, and ensure swift and effective regulatory enforcement.
The Act introduces provisions for sentences against individuals or organizations that violate the prescribed land use rules. The penalties range from fines to imprisonment, which is the government's commitment to prevent illegal use of land and illegal land grabbing. The punishment under this law is not more than two years imprisonment or not more than Tk 5 lakh as a fine or both.
The Land Zoning and Protection Act, of 2024 is a testament to the government's unwavering commitment to protecting the country's land resources for future generations. It is expected that this law will pave the way for a stable and prosperous Bangladesh by maintaining a synergy balance between the implementation of development needs, simultaneously, action taken to environment protection and combat climate change.
At the same time, the Land Zoning and Protection Act, of 2024 is expected to be one of the most effective laws on the way to building Bangabandhu's Smart Bangladesh by 2041.