The Land Development Tax Bill 2023 was passed in Parliament on Sunday aiming to streamlining the land-related taxes.

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury moved the bill and it was passed by voice vote.

As per the proposed Bill, If the total amount of agricultural land is up to 8.25 acres or 25 bighas, land development tax is not required to be paid by individuals or families dependent on agricultural works.

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However, if the amount of this land is more than 25 bighas, the land development tax of the entire agricultural land has to be paid.

It repeals the Land Development Tax Ordinance of 1976.

The law will not be applicable in the three hill districts of Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban.

Sugarcane and salt farming land and farmers' ponds (excluding commercial fisheries) will also be covered under the exemption, it said.

It says uniform land development tax rates and conditions will be applicable in all cases irrespective of whether the agricultural land is located in the rural area or the municipal area.

To determine the rate of land development tax on non-agricultural land, all lands in the country can be classified into multiple categories according to land quality and use.

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The government can waive development tax to any person or any class of persons or organisations.

According to the bill, land development tax can be collected electronically. Until the electronic system is fully introduced across the country, land development tax can be collected through any bank in addition to this system.

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If land development tax is not paid in a city for three years, the penalty will be 6.25 percent per annum from the first to the third year.

Land development tax due at the end of the third year will be recovered by suing the certificate.

According to the bill, the Union Land Assistant Officer will visit the area every year within the month of July and after considering the condition of land use, determine the land development tax of all mauzas in the prescribed form and send it to the Assistant Commissioner (Land). The Assistant Commissioner (Lands) will examine and approve the same.

It also modernises the definition of Union Land Assistant Officer, Successor, Collector etc.

As per the bill, the land development will be collected in fiscal year (July-June) instead of existing Bengali calendar year.