Today, Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar spoke at the first meeting of the Advisery Council Committee on ‘Utilization and Restoration of Acquired, Unused and Occupied Land’. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Aug 4, 2025 (BSS) - Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar today said if the acquired land is not used properly, the land must be returned to the District Administrator.

“It is very important to restore acquired, unused and occupied land,” he told this at the first meeting of the Advisery Council Committee on ‘Utilization and Restoration of Acquired, Unused and Occupied Land’ chaired by the Land Adviser at the conference room of the Land Ministry today.

The Land Adviser added: “Our land is decreasing day by day, so we have to ensure proper use of the land.”

He said even if the land of some institutions, where there were once the post offices, telephone exchanges and telegraph offices in the districts, upazilas, and villages, can be recovered bringing the lands in the possession of the government.

The land adviser said recovering unused and encroached lands is very beneficial for the state.

“This will help increase the economic growth of the state, create employment, help ensure food security, increase land revenue and play a positive role in planned urbanization as well,” he added.

Adviser to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to both the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and Ministry of Railways Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan and senior officials concerned, among others, were present.

Adviser Faozul Kabir Khan told the meeting that the information on acquired unused and encroached land should be obtained from the district administrators.

“Besides, even if the land of the government institution is needed, it should be purchased, not at a nominal price. It should be purchased at the actual price. If necessary, amendments to the law should be made and policies should be formulated,” he added.

The meeting also decided to co-opt Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change here.

Land Ministry’s Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed, Road Transport and Highways Division’s Senior Secretary Md Ehsanul Haque, Bridges Division Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf, Agriculture Ministry Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, Water Resources Ministry Secretary Nazmul Ahsan and Dhaka Divisional Commissioner, among others, were present in the meeting.