Land acquisition in Bangladesh is often justified in the name of national development — new power plants, highways, and urban projects meant to fuel economic growth. But behind these ambitious initiatives lie harsh realities: the displacement of families without fair compensation, local officials’ bending the rules, and a weak regulatory system in which corruption becomes almost predictable. The billion-BDT scandals exposed in recent years are not only financial losses; they erode public trust. Ordinary citizens bear the heaviest burden. People surrender land believing the state will act fairly, only to face long delays, exploitation, and hardship. Though legal protections exist, these problems persist.
There is extensive evidence of corruption and mismanagement within the land acquisition process in Bangladesh, particularly where political patronage is involved. A 2022 Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study documented massive irregularities in land acquisition for power plants at Banshkhali, Barishal, and Matarbari — amounting to 3.90 billion BDT in corruption. Authorities acquired far more land than required: Banshkhali needed 304 acres, but 660 were taken; Barishal needed 81 acres, but 310 were taken; and Matarbari needed only 33 acres, but 388 acres were acquired. Section 8 of the Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Act, 2017 (ARIPA 2017) mandates compensation based on market value, along with relocation and rehabilitation allowances. Yet systematic over-acquisition inflates costs and undermines transparency, showing how constitutional guarantees and statutory protections are often bypassed in practice.
There are other irregularities in land acquisition. Former land adviser AF Hasan Ariff warned that poor procedures in the acquisition process routinely cause harassment of landowners. Families are often forced to pay unofficial fees simply to access documents or receive compensation, despite Section 43 of ARIPA expressly prohibiting payments to intermediaries. Moreover, land acquired ostensibly for public projects is sometimes redirected to luxury developments, hotels, official housing, or overlapping megaprojects such as MRT-6, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, and RAJUK flyovers. Despite provisions for enhanced compensation — up to 200 percent for government projects and 300 percent under Section 9(2) — these protections become meaningless when the land is misused or when compensation is delayed or denied.
The human consequences are profound. In Ukhiya, many farmers have faced severe losses due to the acquisition for industrial projects. Abdus Salam, who had cultivated his ancestral land for decades, watched everything change when plans for the EDCL factory began. His farmland once yielded 1,000–1,200 maunds (37324.2 – 44789.034 kg) of rice annually, while surrounding fields produced another 7,000–8,000 maunds (261269.4 – 298593.6 kg), sustaining dozens of local families. According to him, former Health Minister Zahid Maleque forcibly filled 110 bighas of his land, paying only a nominal amount and leaving 92 decimals entirely uncompensated. “He took all the land using political power,” Salam said, echoing the helplessness felt by many farmers who saw their livelihoods disappear almost overnight.
The Constitution of Bangladesh protects citizens’ property rights. Article 42(1) states that no person can be deprived of property except by authority of law and with fair compensation. ARIPA 2017 was enacted to modernize acquisition procedures, ensure fair returns, and provide mechanisms for objection, hearing, and arbitration. Section 5 requires that land be acquired only for a “public purpose,” while Section 6 requires notice and an opportunity for affected persons to object. Yet the term “public purpose” remains undefined in the Act, leaving wide room for discretionary interpretation and abuse. This ambiguity has allowed private interests, political influence, and non-transparent development priorities to be presented as “public purpose,” often at the cost of citizens’ rights.
While ARIPA 2017 establishes a comprehensive legal framework, enforcement remains weak due to systemic administrative problems. Bureaucratic delays — such as slow verification of land records, repeated surveys, and prolonged issuance of notices — often trap landowners in uncertainty for years, and the misuse of bureaucratic power leads to corruption in acquisition. A 2025 investigation found that 32 senior officials — including cabinet secretaries and former Bangladesh Bank governors — received flats at below-market prices on land originally earmarked for displaced families. Such an incident also illustrates how land intended for public benefit is diverted to privileged insiders, undermining both fairness and trust in institutions.
Overlapping agencies also create confusion: district administrations, land offices, project authorities, and utility agencies often issue conflicting directives in Bangladesh. For instance, in several Dhaka development zones, RAJUK’s plans have overlapped with the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), delaying compensation cycles and leaving affected families without clarity. Such inefficiencies prevent the law from functioning as intended.
True progress in Bangladesh requires development that respects both law and people — building roads, bridges, and power plants without sacrificing fairness, transparency, or dignity. To ensure fair and effective land acquisition, Bangladesh must strengthen the enforcement of ARIPA 2017. So, clear guidelines should be given for the definition as to what qualifies as “public purpose” to prevent political or private misuse. All acquisition-related decisions, surveys, and compensation assessments should be published online for transparency, and digital land records must be integrated with acquisition systems to reduce delays, duplication, and corruption.
The rights of affected communities must be placed at the center of acquisition policy. Compensation should be delivered promptly through a unified digital payment system, and rehabilitation must include livelihood support, skill development, and alternative land allocation where possible. Citizens should have accessible grievance-redress platforms, and public hearings should be mandatory for all major projects. When land is not used for the stated purpose, it should revert to the original owner or community trust bodies. By adopting these measures, Bangladesh can pursue development that is lawful, transparent, and respectful of the people.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Magazine and its editorial team. Views published are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
