We must stop unnecessary land acquisition: Land Adviser

Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder yesterday (13 January) called for responsible land acquisition in Bangladesh, warning that large tracts of land are often acquired without genuine need, putting public resources and local communities at risk.

Speaking at a seminar titled 'Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Land Acquisition Management System in Bangladesh' at a city hotel, Majumder said hasty land acquisition has often led to extra acquisition and delayed payments, creating project delays, escalating costs, and undermining transparency.

"We must stop unnecessary acquisition. Rushed decisions have resulted in prolonged projects, higher expenditures, and reduced transparency," he said.

The adviser identified acute land scarcity as the biggest challenge in acquiring land for large projects in Bangladesh. In a densely populated country like Bangladesh, finding land for acquisition is extremely difficult, he said, stressing the need for greater caution and proper assessment before initiating the process.

Majumder also criticised the "aggressive mindset" of project-implementing agencies and acquisition authorities. "When we want to discuss land requirements with ministries, the secretaries often do not attend. For instance, agencies sometimes demand 1.5 to 2 acres of land to build a roadside guest house, which is clearly unjustified."

He said the land ministry is prioritising ways to avoid acquiring agricultural and homestead land and is also working to simplify the land acquisition system. "We cannot ethically support the acquisition of homestead land. This is not just about money—people have emotional attachments to ancestral land, and that value must be respected."

The study was conducted with support from the World Bank and the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF), engaging the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), highlighting various aspects of simplifying the land acquisition process.

Gayle Martin, Operations Manager of the World Bank for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said land acquisition complexities caused a cumulative loss of around $9.7 billion in six major infrastructure projects in Bangladesh.

She also noted a lack of pro-people approaches in the country's land acquisition system. "Prolonged acquisition processes increase social tension. There is no alternative to a modern land acquisition system. If the requiring agencies and district administration, particularly DC offices, are empowered to take effective action, many of these complications can be resolved."

Study team leader Hafiza Khatun said land acquisition should be considered only as a last resort. "Many projects can be implemented through direct land purchase, leasing, renting, swapping, temporary occupation, or land pooling."

She pointed out that delays are most common in compensating landowners. "According to the law, compensation must be paid before dispossession. But disputes over ownership—such as possession by non-owners or contested land—often delay both compensation and acquisition, increasing costs and prolonging projects."

In his closing remarks, Land Ministry Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed said the ministry is developing these Land Acquisition Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), alongside all land-related services that would be digitised to reduce delays, and expressed hope for continued World Bank support in addressing land acquisition challenges.