Conservation of 80% of farmland proposed in draft law to ensure food security
Land ministry expects law to be enacted by November
Highlights:
- Draft law protects 80% of farmland for agriculture only
- Aims to curb farmland loss from housing and industrialisation
- New zoning authority to enforce planned land use nationally
- Violations face jail, heavy fines, and property confiscation
- Fourteen land zones created, including agriculture, forests, wetlands, industry
- Multi-crop farmland cannot be repurposed under any circumstances
The government has prepared a draft of a new ordinance that proposes the conservation of 80% of Bangladesh's existing farmland exclusively for agriculture, prohibiting any other use without strict official approval.
The draft, titled the "Land Zoning and Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance 2025", aims to prevent the country's shrinking farmland from being converted for housing, industrial, or commercial purposes.
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Officials at the land ministry said the legislation seeks to ensure planned land use across all categories while prioritising food security and sustainable development.
Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar told The Business Standard on Thursday that farmland was being converted for non-agricultural purposes at an alarming rate, undermining food production.
"Our country is small, but the population is large. Protecting farmland is crucial. The law will ensure that farmland used for housing or industrialisation follows a controlled and planned process," he said.
He added that while some regulations already exist to protect farmland, they are incomplete. "This law will introduce a comprehensive control system for farmland use and ensure planned utilisation of other land categories."
The advisory committee will meet on 6 October to review the draft. "It's a sensitive issue, and we don't know how many rounds of discussions will be needed. But we hope to finalise the draft quickly and aim to enact the law by November," Ali Imam said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said the government will enact the ordinance with strict rules for protecting agricultural land so that crop land cannot be misused under any circumstances.
"The crop land will not be wasted under any condition. Even establishments will not be constructed on double- or triple-crop lands," he said at a press briefing.
On 14 August, Land Ministry Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed, during a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Working Committee tasked with finalising the draft, said 59.7% of the country's total land is currently classified as agricultural land.
He added that 17.4% of land is forested while 20% is classified as wetland. "In this context, the Land Zoning and Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance is essential to secure our future food needs," he said.
The total area of agricultural land in Bangladesh is approximately 88.29 lakh hectares, according to the Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics 2024 published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
New authority for zoning, protection
Under the proposed law, agricultural land refers to all cultivable land, whether currently farmed or not, as well as land used for field crops, horticultural produce, livestock rearing, or fish cultivation.
The preamble of the draft noted that unplanned urbanisation, industrialisation, and infrastructure development are changing land classification, leading to a steady loss of farmland.
According to the draft, the government will form the "Bangladesh Land Zoning and Protection Authority", which will safeguard farmland and ensure planned, zone-based land use.
Using advanced technology, including drones, the authority will assess land by mouza to determine its characteristics and designate zones accordingly. Once a zoning map is prepared, it will be made public for 30 days, allowing residents to submit objections with valid reasoning to the deputy commissioner.
The law will ban harmful alterations of land surfaces, including removing topsoil for brickfields or cutting hills and forests. It will also prohibit damage to non-agricultural land such as wetlands, rivers, canals, haors, and forests.
Penalties for violation
The draft proposes that any individual or organisation defying directives to prevent damaging land surfaces or misusing farmland will face penalties.
Using farmland for non-agricultural purposes without approval will result in up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of Tk10 lakh, or both. Repeat offences will double the punishment to two years' imprisonment or Tk20 lakh in fines.
Real estate developers or housing societies will not be allowed to build housing estates on farmland without approval. Occupying large tracts of farmland for such projects will also attract penalties.
If a company, NGO, or individual unlawfully occupies farmland for commercial or recreational use, they could face up to two years in jail or fines of Tk50 lakh. Repeat offences could lead to double punishment, including Tk1 crore in fines.
The authority will have the power to demolish unauthorised structures and auction confiscated properties.
Abdul Latif, vice-president of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), welcomed the move, saying planned land use would benefit all stakeholders.
"Food security will be ensured, and unplanned development like random construction of factories, resorts, and parks will be curbed," he said.
14 types of land to be zoned
The draft proposes dividing land into 14 zones: agriculture, mixed farming-fisheries, rivers and canals, wetlands, transport and communication, urban residential, rural settlements, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, institutional and civic facilities, forest and plantation, cultural heritage, and hilly regions.
Agricultural land will include crop fields, orchards, grazing areas, and farms. Mixed-use zones will combine residential and commercial purposes, while industrial zones will cover economic zones and factories.
Civic zones will include schools, hospitals, mosques, and government buildings. Forest zones will protect reserved forests, community woodlands, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Strict control over farmland use
The draft ordinance prohibits the use or alteration of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes without prior approval. In contrast, non-agricultural land may be freely used for farming.
Farmland is classified into six categories based on crop patterns: single-crop, double-crop, triple-crop, quadruple-crop, horticultural, and field crop land. Canals, reservoirs, and wetlands will follow existing legal definitions.
Land yielding two or more crops annually cannot be repurposed under any circumstances, while single-crop land must remain for farming.
However, in cases of national importance or public interest, limited portions of single-crop land may be approved for development – such as roads, schools, industries, or agro-based ventures – by public or private entities.
Owners may use a minimal portion of their farmland for houses, religious structures, family ponds, shops, warehouses, small industries, cemeteries, or other residentially linked facilities. Any usage beyond this requires prior approval.
The law does not define the minimum required area. Officials said this will be clarified in accompanying rules, which will also set maximum usage limits by land type.
Conversion of forests, wetlands, rivers, hills, or coastal lands will be prohibited without authorisation. To ensure food security, the government may declare "special agricultural zones" based on land zoning maps.
Where land contains energy, minerals, or archaeological resources, the law will not obstruct government exploration or extraction, though the land ministry must be notified beforehand.
A senior official of the land ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the draft was previously presented to the Advisory Council, which has now directed that stronger measures be included to ensure stricter farmland protection.
