Abandoned Property Rules: Oikya Parishad seeks halt on its finalisation

Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad yesterday demanded suspension of formulating and finalisation of Bangladesh Abandoned Property (Control, Management and Disposal) Rules, 2020, under the Vested Property Return (Amendment) Act.

The alliance condemned the move, saying the initiative of formulating rules in a hurried manner without handing over property to the owners is "purposive and against the people's interests."

The Vested Property Return (Amendment) Act was adopted in the parliament in 2001 and several positive amendments were done between 2011 and 2013, the coalition of religious minorities in the country said.

Although some steps were taken to make the "positive amendments" into "negative amendments", it was not successful due to the interference of the prime minister, general secretary of the Parishad Rana Dasgupta said through a press statement.

He said with a view to foiling the good intentions of the prime minister, a dishonest group of bureaucrats has taken initiative to finalise the "so-called rules" within a month to achieve ill motives, the statement said.

He also said in 2018, a similar move was taken but the bureaucracy backtracked in the face of the protest of the people.

The press statement demanded immediate implementation of the High Court's directives regarding the Vested Property Return Act.