Bangladesh Land Holding (Limitation) Order, 1972

Bangladesh Land Holding (Limitation) Order, 1972 a Presidential Order (Order No 98 of 1972) specifying the maximum quantity of land, both agricultural and non-agricultural, that may be owned or held by a family or body in Bangladesh. The ceiling on holding of land was reduced from 375 bighas to 100 standard bighas, and every family is required to surrender to the government excess land in their possession. The Order prohibits acquisition of land in excess of this ceiling by purchase, gift, inheritance or otherwise. On the issue of this Order, every family was required to submit a statement of all lands held by it and also to indicate in a separate statement the excess lands which it would like to surrender. Any omission from or incorrect declaration in the statement has been made a punishable offence, and the land omitted from the statement is made liable to forfeiture.

This Order provides for a departmental adjudication of the grievances against the order of the revenue officers in matters of acceptance of excess lands and payment of compensation. An appeal against the order of the revenue officer regarding the excess land for surrender may be placed before the Deputy Commissioner, and a further appeal against the order of the deputy commissioner may be placed before the Divisional Commissioner. A revision against the order of the divisional commissioner will lie to the Land Appeal Board. There is no provision for appeal against the order of forfeiture of land.

The assessment of land and payment of compensation for surrender of excess land are made by the revenue officer. An appeal against assessment of compensation lies to the deputy commissioner, and a further appeal against the order of the deputy commissioner will lie to the divisional commissioner whose decision is final. [Aminul Huq]