Bangladesh approves law to protect Hindu religious property

Since the British period,a law is in place for management and protection of Muslim Wakf sites while Hindus are yet to have any such law for their Devottar property,so we appreciate the move, Hindu law expert Advocate Rana Dashgupta told PTI.

He said thousands of pieces of land offered to temples were encroached or grabbed over the decades while the law could now allow authorities to take steps for recovery as well as protection of such property.

Hindu activist Kajal Debnath said the move was the outcome of Hindu communitys growing demands against the backdrop of increased incidents of encroachment or grabbing of Devottar property.

The draft prescribes provisions to ensure proper development and management of the Devottar property and make completely illegal the transfer of property that has been donated to Hindu temples,monasteries and Ashrams.

The proposed law also provides for punishment for irregularities in managing the properties,including heavy fines or jail for misleading the board with wrong information about such properties.