Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury piloted the bill in the House, which was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Land Ministry for further scrutiny.

Parliament asked the committee to report to the House over the bill within six days.

The bill was brought with a view to removing disparity between the plain-land districts and Chittagong 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 percent of their land price in case of land acquisition when the bill is passed by 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 total 115 percent of market values of lands in case of land acquisition as they now get only 15 percent compensation in the CHT areas.

On January 21 last, the Cabinet approved the draft of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Land Acquisition) Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2019.