Staff Reporter :
In a significant move to bolster local governance and invigorate the rural economy, the government is in the process of formulating the Haat and Bazar (Establishment and Management) rules.
Land Secretary Md. Khalilur Rahman emphasised the pivotal role these rules would play in fostering a welfare-oriented smart local governance system during a meeting held at the Ministry of Land on Thursday.
Representatives from various ministries, including local government, commerce, finance, agriculture, law, liberation war, and women and children affairs, along with District Administration officials, convened to finalise the Haat and Bazar Rules for 2024.
Highlighting the significance of haat-bazaars in Bangladesh’s rural economy, Md. Khalilur Rahman stressed the need to ensure participation from marginal farmers and traders with limited capital.
He mentioned that Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda has provided clear directives in this regard.
Discussions during the meeting revealed that the draft of the Haat and Bazar (Establishment and Management) Rules 2024 proposes allocating 4 percent of the lease money from haats and bazaars for the welfare of freedom fighters.
Additionally, 5 percent of the lease money will be directed towards central revenue in the form of a fee, while the remaining 91 percent will be allocated for local area development.
The proposed rules encompass various aspects, including the allocation of lease money for officer and employee salaries in local government institutions, haat-bazaar development, and revenue generation for local governments.
One significant provision in the draft rules involves the construction of multi-story shopping complexes on government khas land within haat-bazaar peripheries, aiming to enhance market facilities and infrastructure.
Under the Haat and Bazar (Establishment and Management) Act, 2023, the definition of ‘Haat and Bazar’ encompasses places where agricultural products, fruits, animals, poultry, eggs, fish, meat, dairy products, food, beverages, industrial products, and daily necessities are bought and sold regularly. It also includes shops established for these transactions.
The ownership of these haats and bazaars is vested in the Ministry of Land, with local authorities such as collectors and Deputy Commissioners overseeing their management in Upazila Parishads, Municipalities, and City Corporations under the Ministry of Local Government.
