Resolving land disputes thru arbitration: Bill placed in parliament

The Land Crime Prevention and Remedy Bill, 2023 was placed in parliament today to curb land-related forgeries and offences.

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury placed the bill which was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the respective ministry for further examination.

The committee was asked to submit its report within seven days.

In the proposed law, the land-related forgeries were specified and steps were taken to prevent and curb the crimes related to public and private lands as well as to ensure remedy to these offences.

A scope was kept in the proposed law for the disposal of land-related disputes through arbitration alongside the court.

The maximum punishment for land forgery would be seven years imprisonment, while the minimum is two-year jail.

Read more

Steps to follow before purchasing land in Bangladesh

According to the bill, transfer of land, promotion of another person's land in one's own name during survey and record updating, transfer of whole or part of any land to a particular person by concealing information, transfer of land by concealing the identity of the person, and signing any document containing false information will be punished with a maximum of seven years of imprisonment.

It said that after a document is executed, any part of the document fraudulently cut or altered without lawful authority shall be punishable with imprisonment for a maximum of seven years and a fine.

The punishment for preparing any false document in whole or in part is also the same. Apart from this, if a person is forced to sign or change a document fraudulently, the same punishment shall also be served.

According to the bill, no person can occupy the land unless the right of ownership or possession has been acquired by the last khatian owner or heirs or through a legally executed deed of transfer or possession or a court order. Illegal possession will be punishable with imprisonment for a maximum of two years.

The bill states that if a person does not have a valid latest certificate issued or updated under the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act and fails to produce proof of payment of the certificate and up-to-date land development tax, he/she shall sell, donate or donate or otherwise transfer the land, execute power of attorney. or cannot register the document.

According to the bill, a person who cuts the topsoil of arable land without the permission of the District Commissioner will be punished with imprisonment for a maximum of two years.

The bill mentioned that if any person aids and abets the commission of an offence under this proposed act, he shall be punished with the same penalty as the principal offender.