Parliament passes Land Use Control, Agricultural Land Protection Bill

The Parliament today (9 April) passed the Land Use Control and Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026, aimed at preventing the decline of arable land and unplanned urbanisation to ensure food security.

With Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair, the bill was placed and moved by Land Minister M Mizanur Rahman Minu.

The bill was unanimously passed by voice vote.

The law prohibits tobacco cultivation on agricultural lands that produce three or more crops a year. Tobacco cultivation on agricultural lands producing one or two crops annually should be gradually limited, the bill said.

The proposed legislation seeks to regulate land use across the country in response to rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion, infrastructure development, and population growth, which have been steadily reducing cultivable land.

The bill notes that unplanned land conversion has led to a continuous decline in agricultural land, posing risks to food security for present and future generations.

It proposes a structured, zone-based land management system to preserve farmland and ensure its optimal use based on ecological and geographical characteristics.

Under the proposed law, all land in Bangladesh, except the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachhari, will be brought under a comprehensive zoning framework.

The zoning map will be developed by the government using modern digital technology, satellite imagery, and field-level verification.

The zoning process will classify land based on its current use, topography, and environmental features and may be implemented nationwide at once or in phases.

The government will publish a draft zoning map and allow citizens to submit objections or opinions within 30 working days. The zoning map will be updated every 10 years.

The bill places strong restrictions on the use of fertile agricultural land, particularly two-crop, three-crop, and multi-crop lands, as well as areas declared as special agricultural zones for high-value or high-yield production.

These lands cannot be used for non-agricultural purposes, except in limited cases of national necessity, such as energy or mineral extraction, and subject to strict conditions.

The proposed law sets a ceiling, allowing no more than 10 percent of total agricultural land to be used for non-agricultural purposes.

The legislation also includes strict measures to prevent environmental degradation.

It prohibits the removal of topsoil from agricultural land for brick kilns and bans the filling of water bodies and wetlands. It also restricts hill cutting and activities that damage forests.

Any violation, including the construction of housing projects, resorts, or industrial establishments on protected land, will be treated as a punishable offence.

Offenders may also be required to restore the land to its original condition in addition to facing legal penalties.

All government and private development projects will be required to comply with the law.

District administrations will be responsible for preparing lists of agricultural and ecologically critical lands, preventing illegal land conversion, regulating soil use for brick kilns, and taking corrective actions such as the removal of illegal structures and restoration of land.

The bill allows landowners to construct essential structures, such as houses, places of worship, family ponds, and small cottage industries, on their own agricultural land, subject to prior approval and compliance with conditions.

Violations of the law, including unauthorised land use changes and illegal construction, will be punishable with imprisonment, fines, or both. Some offences may carry penalties of up to two years' imprisonment or fines of up to Tk2 lakh.

Cases under the law will be tried by judicial magistrates, and provisions have been included to enable enforcement through mobile courts.

The bill also proposes repealing the Land Use Control and Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance, 2026, while retaining actions already taken under it.

If passed, the law is expected to introduce a more structured and science-based approach to land management in Bangladesh, balancing development needs with environmental protection and agricultural sustainability, the land minister said.