On Monday, the cabinet approved in principle a draft of the Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act 2016, which will increase compensation for land acquisition by the government up to triple the value of the property.
Previously, the compensation amounted to only 1.5 times the value of the land.
"The current law enacted in 1982 provides unduly low compensation to owners when their land is acquired by the government," Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam said after the meeting at the secretariat had concluded at around 1:00pm.
Shafiul said the land value to be used in calculating compensation would take the mean average from transations of the land in question over the previous year.
He stressed that although it would not be an easy process to change the law, a court order obliges the government to do so, while also making a Bangla version.
"Aside from land law being complicated by nature, the 1982 version of the law was passed during a martial law regime. This makes the matter even more complicated," he said.
In order to hold a comprehensive review of the law, a committee has been formed with the Land minister at its head. It also includes the defence secretary and the land secretary, as well as a provision for co-opting more members. The law minister will act as the convener of the committee.
According to the law, the purpose as well as the process of acquisition are both important aspects. As such, the committee has been given particular imperative to find proper definitions for what constitutes the “public purpose” and “public interest” as the grounds on which the acquisition is carried out. Both concepts lack clear definitions in the existing law.Other businessAlso from Monday's meeting, the cabinet secretary said that the enforcement of the Palli Sanchay Bank (amendment) ordinance 2016 was agreed and the draft of the Bangladesh college of physicians and surgeons act 2016 was finally approved.
Other items on the meeting agenda included informing the cabinet of the prime minister's Hungary visit on November 28-30, Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon's Japan visit with a delegation on September 4-8, and the Land minister's Japan visit on 25-31 August.
The draft of Bangladesh college of physicians and surgeons act proposed anew the formation of a 20-member strong council, according to section 7 of the law.
The council will be charged with holding different exams, including the FCPS and MCPS exams, giving certificates to the qualified, appointing the board for exam control, determining fees for the exams, selecting distinguished fellows, forming different committees for specific functions, and organising the annual general meeting of the college.
16 members of the council will be elected from among the fellows for two-year terms, while the remaining four members will be appointed by the government for proposed four-year tenures.
“The law is enacted with the aim of developing the standard of the health care by providing education and training, organising FCPS and MCPS exams, ensuring post-graduate level education in all spheres of medical education and by facilitating researches in the field,” the cabinet secretary said.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
