Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said that the primary objective of the Land Crimes Prevention and Redress Act is to deter individuals from engaging in land-related crimes.
He emphasized that this law has been made possible for the nation due to the dynamic leadership and courage of the Honorable Prime Minister.
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said this while giving an opening speech at a press conference organized in the conference room of the Ministry of Land at the secretariat Wednesday morning regarding the three land related bills passed by the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday. The minister later participated in a question-answer session with reporters. Land Secretary Mohammad Khalilur Rahman was present on this occasion.
The three land bills recently passed by parliament include the 'Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, 2023,' the 'Land Reform Act, 2023,' and the 'Balumohal and Soil Management (Amendment) Act, 2023' (related to sand quarrying). These bills, once granted by the President, will become law and be published in the Gazette for public information as Acts of Parliament.
Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury also said that the process of enacting this land crime law was complex and sensitive. Extensive consultations were held with stakeholders, both at the individual and organizational levels, during the drafting phase. Thanks to the dedication of all involved, the law has been presented as a gift to the people of the country ahead of schedule - he said.
He added that this is a relatively new law, and any necessary corrections will be made based on its implementation in the field.
Regarding the Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, the minister explained that land-related offenses have been categorized into eight primary categories, which include 'Land Fraud,' 'Land Forgery,' 'Illegal Occupancy,' 'Non-transfer of possession of land sold to the buyer,' 'Damage to boundaries or land,' 'Illegal occupation, entry, or construction on Government, Semi-Government, Permanent Institution, or Public Use Land,' 'Illegal encroachment, change of class, etc., of land in the interest of Government, Semi-Government, Autonomous Institutions, or Public Use Land,' and 'Top-soil cutting and filling.' The Act also addresses four other types of offenses: Disobeying orders, Aiding or abetting the commission of a crime, Repetition of a crime, and Crimes committed by companies.
In response to a question about the Land Reform Act, the minister stated that an individual cannot own more than 60 bighas of agricultural land. If inherited land exceeds 60 bighas, the heir can choose to retain 60 bighas of land, while the remaining land will become government-owned (Khas) and compensation will be provided according to government regulations.
However, if someone unlawfully acquires additional land in their name or through a pseudo name despite already owning 60 bighas, the excess land will be confiscated without government compensation.
Regarding the Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, the minister stated that trials for land fraud-related crimes and land forgery-related crimes should take place in the court of a first-class judicial magistrate or a metropolitan magistrate. These trials must be completed within 180 working days.
Apart from crimes related to land fraud, which also include orders for the restoration of possession to persons who have been illegally dispossessed and cases of repeated offenses mentioned in the Act, other offenses specified in the Act may be tried through the Mobile Court, subject to schedule list. Furthermore, crimes related to land fraud and land forgery are considered non-bailable, while other offenses are bailable and can be settled through compromise.
The Land Secretary informed that crimes related to land fraud and land forgery are punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment and fines, while other offenses can lead to up to 2 years of imprisonment and fines. If the same offense is repeated, the law prescribes double punishment.
It's worth noting that significant aspects of the Land Crime Prevention and Remedial Act include the recovery of possession, provision of compensation, protection of witnesses, land database, and the assistance of law enforcement agencies. Additionally, if any difficulties arise in implementing any provision of this Act due to ambiguity, the government may take necessary measures to address such issues in accordance with other provisions of the Act.
During the press conference, Additional Secretary Mohammad Abbas Uddin, Additional Secretary Pradeep Kumar Das, Joint Secretary Md. Khalilur Rahman, Joint Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam, and various officials from the Ministry of Land were present.