Dhaka: The Jatiya Sangsad on Thursday passed the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Land Acquisition) Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for providing 200-300 percent market price as compensation in case of land acquisition in the CHT area like the plain land of the country.

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury moved the bill in the House, which was passed by a voice vote, reports the UNB.

The bill will remove the disparity between the plain-land districts and Chattogram Hill Tract region in availing of compensation against land acquisition.

The Section 4 (2) of the bill states, ‘In addition to the market value of the land, as provided above, the Deputy Commissioner shall, in every case, award a sum of 200 per centum for public purpose and 300 per centum for private purpose on such market value, in consideration of the compulsory nature of acquisition.’

So, the land owners will get total 300 to 400 per cent of their land price in case of land acquisition.

On February 18, the bill was placed in parliament.

On December 20, 2018, an ordinance was promulgated increasing the compensation to 300 percent from 15 percent in case of land acquisition in the CHT area.

According to the existing Chittagong Hill Tracts (Land Acquisition) Regulation, 1958, now the land owners get a total of 115 per cent of market values of land in case of land acquisition as they now get only 15 per cent compensation in the CHT areas.