Speakers at a discussion yesterday called for proper implementation of The Vested Properties Return Act 2001 with some amendments to it.
They said despite rulings by apex courts that there is no validity of The Vested Property Act since 1974, land offices from union to district levels are still exploiting the act to harass the people of minority community.
The discussion titled 'The Vested Property Act is a curse for the nation' was organised by Arpita Sampatti Ain Protirodh Andolon Jatiya Committee at Poet Sufia Kamal Bhaban in the capital yesterday.
In a keynote paper, Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, member-secretary of the Committee, said a vested quarter in local administration is active to grab the lands or properties of the minority community whenever these people stay away from their homes for a long time.
He said in the name of The Vested Property Act, influential people across the country are grabbing homes, lands and properties of the minority people making them paupers.
The discussants urged the government to stop such practices which leave the people of minority community in constant fear and anxiety of losing their ancestral land properties.
They demanded implementation of The Vested Properties Return Act 2001 that allows successors living in the country to inherit the properties left behind by their ancestors.
Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon took part in the discussion which was presided over by Committee Convener Advocate Jead-al-Malum.