Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder has said that in an agriculture-dependent country like Bangladesh, agricultural land is not merely a means of production—it is the lifeline of our livelihood, culture, and economy. Food security, employment, and rural stability are all directly linked to the preservation of farmland.
However, due to population growth, unplanned urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructural expansion, agricultural land is rapidly shrinking, turning farmland protection into a national challenge.
He made these remarks while presiding over a review meeting on the draft of the “Land Use and Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance, 2025” at the Ministry of Land’s Conference room on Monday.
Ali Imam Majumder stated that land-use regulation is not only an administrative task but also a prerequisite for sustainable national development. He emphasized that through the right policies, public awareness, and the integration of technology, it is possible to ensure the optimal use of land, paving the way for an environmentally sustainable and prosperous Bangladesh.
The draft ordinance, he said, outlines 14 categories of land zoning, aiming to regulate land use and protect agricultural zones. Under the proposed law, all ministries and departments will be required to keep the Ministry of Land informed about their land-use plans and update them periodically.
The ordinance specifies that despite the provisions of the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act, 1950 (Act No. XXVIII of 1951), Section 83, all agricultural land as defined under the new law must be protected. Land classified as agricultural cannot be used, transferred, or reclassified for non-agricultural purposes without prior permission. However, using non-agricultural land for agricultural purposes will be allowed.
To enforce compliance, the ordinance proposes penalties ranging from Tk 100,000 to Tk 500,000 and imprisonment for violations. The government aims to implement the ordinance promptly to safeguard the country's agricultural resources and ensure planned land management.
Among the special guests present were Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Home Affairs; Adilur Rahman Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and the Ministry of Industries; and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land A.S.M. Saleh Ahmed, along with secretaries and senior officials from various ministries were present.
