Citizens and stakeholders have recommended inclusion of the provision of instant punishment in the proposed draft titled ‘Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, 2022’.
Besides, they also suggested reducing the 22 types of identified crimes related to land resources.
The recommendations were made at an inter-ministerial meeting, chaired by Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, aimed at finalising the draft of the proposed ‘‘Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, 2022’’ held on Wednesday at the meeting room of the land ministry.
Land Secretary Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman PAA, among others, was present at the meeting.
The stakeholders also believe that bringing the same overlapping crimes under the same section will make the law smart.
Apart from this, it was recommended to keep both the provisions of jail and fine for some offences.
At the meeting, several participants opined on the drafting of law using an up-to-date framework where applicable instead of a conventional framework.
Based on the opinion of citizens and stakeholders, the draft ‘‘Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act, 2022’’ has been recommended to be sent to the Cabinet for approval with the provision of instant punishment.
Concurring with the recommendation, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said it was essential to provide speedy legal redress or equitable relief to the injured party by speedy disposal of cases as it is imperative to ensure justice.
Addressing the meeting, the minister further said that one of the objectives of the Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act is to ensure ownership and possession of real owners, prevent the illegal occupation of land and prevent crimes and ensure speedy redressal of crimes.
The land minister said the law is enacted for the benefit of the citizens. Our first responsibility is to protect our priced land property.
“Therefore, we all should have a clear idea about the relevant laws. It is also important to ensure that the citizens of the country get proper information on legal issues”, he said.
The meeting had fruitful discussions on the views of citizens and stakeholders on the draft of the law. Based on the recommendations received through discussion, the preliminary draft will be amended as necessary and the revised draft will first be sent to the Ministry of Public Administration for language standardisation.
The next phase of legislation will begin by sending the standardised draft to the Cabinet Division later.
On January 19 this year, its primary draft (bill) aimed at enacting the Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act was published on the website of the Ministry of Land for everyone’s opinion.
It was informed at the meeting that there was an unprecedented response from the citizens and stakeholders of the country since it was opened for opinion.
More than two hundred and fifty categorical opinions have been received from the organisation and individual levels. In addition, there are more than a thousand brief comments from different places from the individuals.
Among the issues discussed based on these views are the crimes related to illegal occupation of private land, Khas land, and government land and various aspects of its redress, prevention, and punishment, as well as the socio-economic and environmental impact of illegal and arbitrary use of land.
Officials of the different concerned ministries, among others, attended the event.
