During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) fought for independence from West Pakistan (now Pakistan). The war ended with the independence of Bangladesh on December 16, 1971. In the aftermath, the new government of Bangladesh took steps to address the issue of properties allegedly owned or controlled by those who were against the liberation, including collaborators and Pakistani nationals.
, the government began publishing comprehensive district-wide lists through official gazette notifications to facilitate the return of seized lands to their original owners or heirs. Equal Rights Trust Legal Context and Categorization
Despite the legal provisions, accessing a "full list" remains a challenge for the common citizen. In 2012, while lists were displayed at local administrative offices (Deputy Commissioner's offices) to invite objections and claims, a centralized, digitally accessible national database was still in its nascent stages. enemy property list of bangladesh 2012 full
The origin of enemy property dates back to the Indo-Pakistani War of September 1965. The Government of Pakistan enacted the Defense of Pakistan Ordinance 1965 , followed by the Enemy Property (Custody and Registration) Order 1965 . Under these laws, the lands and assets of individuals who left Pakistan for India—overwhelmingly belonging to the minority Hindu community—were classified as "enemy property" and seized by the state.
The 'Kha' (Schedule B) list became a tool for local land grabbers, corrupt land officials, and influential individuals to harass legitimate landowners, forcing them into expensive, protracted legal battles to prove their ownership. During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, the
As of recent years, the legal framework continues to evolve. While the 2012 list was intended to be a final, comprehensive, and updated list, controversies regarding the accuracy of the records persist. The Vested Property Return Act aimed to provide a mechanism for the rightful owners to reclaim their property, but the process is described as lengthy and complex by those involved. Conclusion
The Ministry of Land has progressively digitized various land records. You can check local district e-services portals (e.g., the specific web portal of districts like Sylhet, Dhaka, Chittagong, or Barisal) under the Vested Property (অর্পিত সম্পত্তি) section to see if regional digital databases are searchable by name or plot number. 2. Local Government Offices The origin of enemy property dates back to
In practice, this law disproportionately targeted the minority Hindu community in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Even after Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971, the core mechanism of the law survived. In 1974, the government enacted the Vested Property Act, which automatically transferred these previously seized "enemy properties" to the custody of the Bangladeshi state. The 2011 Amendment and the 2012 List
Consequently, any property listed under the "Kha" schedule in the original 2012 publication was legally stripped of its "vested" status, restoring peace of mind to millions of landholders. How to Access and Search the "Ka" Schedule List Today
This amendment mandated that the government publish a definitive, official inventory of vested lands so that rightful owners or their legal heirs could claim them back. This led directly to the compilation and publication of the official . Categorisation of the Property (Schedule 'A' and 'B')