New draft law proposes official clearance mandatory for building houses in villages

The government has cleared the draft of a new law which proposes mandatory official clearance for building houses in rural areas as well as use of land across the country.

Provisions of five-year prison term and a Tk 5 million fine have been kept as penalties for offenders.

On Monday, a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the draft of the 'Urban and Regional Planning Act 2017.'

"The law is meant to reform the land management process. It has several provisions facilitating planned use of land," Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told the media.

He said the law proposes a 27-member high-level advisory council led by the housing and public works minister, which will be responsible to supervise the Urban Development Directorate or its executive council.

"The 25-member executive council will be headed by the public works secretary," said Alam.

The minister-led panel will act as a policymaking body, while the executive council will be in charge of implementing those.

"Official clearance from the advisors' council will be required for using lands for every government and private organizations as well as individuals," said the secretary.

He, however, said the council will be able to empower any government organization to issue clearances.