JS passes Vested Properties Return (Amendment) Bill

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Parliament Monday passed the Vested Properties Return (Amendment) Bill 2011, reports UNB. Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira moved the bill in the House for smooth return of the vested properties to their genuine owners. The bill was passed by voice votes with some minor amendments in the absence of opposition in the House. Earlier, moving the bill, the Land Minister said that although the Vested Properties Return Act was enacted in 2001, but this law could not be implemented. He said it has become necessary to amend and implement this law for ensuring social discipline and justice by returning those lands owned by the country's citizens but wrongly enlisted as vested properties. According to the new bill, district-wise lists of the vested properties will be prepared and published through gazette notification within 150 days of execution of the Vested Properties Return (Amendment) Act-2011. Provisions are also incorporated in the bill to publish in gazette notification within 30 days of publication of lists of returnable properties that are not mentioned in the list of returnable properties but vested on the government under the Act or recorded in the name of the government.