Online Desk: Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda has directed the divisional commissioners to take measures to prevent the unauthorised use of farmland for housing, commercial, and industrial purposes.

Additionally, he directed them to take the necessary measures to prevent unauthorised land filling activities with sand or soil as soon as they are discovered.

The minister gave the directive while addressing the divisional commissioner coordination meeting as the chief guest at the Secretariat on Thursday.

The land minister reiterated the prime minister’s directive to protect double- and triple-crop farmland for food security and environmental protection. He emphasised the need to build a social movement to prevent the illegal cutting of land’s top layer or filling of land with sand or soil.

If any such incident occurs, locals should be encouraged to promptly inform the relevant office, and quick measures should be taken to prevent further illegal activities, added Narayon.

He informed the divisional commissioners that the Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024 (draft) is in the final stage to protect agricultural land and the environment.

The land minister said the purpose of this law is to prevent unplanned urbanisation, housing, construction of houses, development activities, and construction of industries and roads; to protect the environment and continue the production of food crops while maintaining the class or nature of the land; To ensure planned and optimum use of land, including protection of agricultural land, forests, hillocks, hills, rivers, canals, and water bodies; and to ensure the use of land and state discipline in the best use of land through planned zoning.

Additional Secretary Md Abbas Uddin chaired the meeting. Among others, chairman of the Land Appeal Board, AKM Shamimul Haque, chairman of the Land Reform Board, Md.Abdus Sabur Mondal were present in the meeting, among others.