Dhaka: Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder today emphasized the importance of maintaining environmental balance when undertaking development projects at both national and local levels. He highlighted the necessity of adhering to environmental rules and regulations during the 150th meeting of the Central Land Allotment Committee held at the Land Ministry conference room.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Majumder expressed concern over the use of vast agricultural lands for project implementation, which poses a significant threat to the country’s food security. He stressed that, as per the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act-1995, obtaining clearance from the Directorate of Environment is mandatory before any project implementation. Additionally, an environmental influence analysis (EIA) certificate must be secured for preparing project proposals.
During the meeting, the committee decided to approve the acquisition of 23 acres of land at Dorga Para Mouza under Parbotipur upazila in Dinajpur district for the ‘Power Grid Network Strengthening Project’ in the next session. Final approval was also granted for acquiring 116.33 acres of land across seven mouzas in Sirajdikhan and Srinagar upazilas of Munshiganj district for the ‘Padma Bridge Rail Link Project’.
Furthermore, the meeting sanctioned the acquisition of 10.68 acres of land across Ataula, Dayamir, Khayerpur Uttar, and Raikdara mouzas in Osmaninagar upazila, Sylhet district, for the “Land acquisition and utility shifting project-support to Dhaka (Kanchpur)-Sylhet Tamabil Highway” expansion. The proposal for acquiring 22.06 acres of land at Baroshala mouza in Sylhet sadar upazila for the ‘Construction of four lanes of Kumargaon-Baidyaghat-Airport Road’ project was also approved, aiming to elevate it to national highway status.
Senior officials, including Senior Secretary to the Land Ministry ASM Saleh Ahmed, Senior Secretary to the Road Transport and Highway Division Md Ehsanul Haque, Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Agriculture Secretary Emdad Ullah Mizan, and Rail Secretary Md Fahimul Islam, were present at the meeting.