​Dhaka: The Parliament on Wednesday passed the Payra Port Project (land acquisition) Bill-2016 making a special provision for filing appeals to the divisional commissioner by aggrieved persons for determination of compensation against land acquisition.

The bill was passed with voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair, reported BSS. Earlier, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif introduced the bill in the House on February 3, 2016.

Earlier, the cabinet approved draft of ‘Payra Port Project (land acquisition) Bill-2016’ on September 21, 2015, saying the proposed law has been drafted in line with Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property Ordinance, 1982 (Ordinance No. II of 1982) which does not have any provision for filing appeals to the divisional commissioners against determination of compensation against land acquisition by the deputy commissioners.

Under the bill, compensation against the acquired lands will have to paid within 60 days upon receipt of the money from the concerned organization at offices of the concerned union parishad or ward commissioner or councilor office as per the schedule announced earlier by the deputy commissioner.

On February 15, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Land Ministry M Rezaul Karim Hira submitted the report on the bill in the House after scrutiny. The committee placed the report recommending passage the bill.