MOST of the waqf land property which had been endowed for supporting the poor and underprivileged sections now exists only on paper as the lion’s share of the property has gone under illegal occupation over the years. In this context, the waqf administration has cancelled all the orders it had earlier issued for the transfer or sale of waqf property amid an outcry of illegal sale of such property by estate managers or inheritors by misusing the orders or making such fake documents. Land grabbers, empowered by local political goons, generally target such land and properties in the absence of strong guardians. It is the duty of administration to ensure the proper use and management in line with the benevolent desires of the waqf executor(s) for the common welfare of the society.
A national daily reported that the waqf administration would take initiatives to recover the properties which had already been transferred illegally by manipulating the administrator’s orders or by using fake orders. Waqf administration officials said they had also found that people had sold out waqf property even by managing permission from District Administration though only the waqf administrator had the authority to give such order. For example, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet had given permission to the Ghashitola Jaam-e-Mosque waqf estate mutwalli to sell out a portion of its land following recommendations of the Sylhet Sadar Assistant Commissioner (Land) in 2013.
The waqf administration, a organisation under Religious Affairs Ministry, had unearthed a number of cases where people showing old or fake orders of waqf administrator had transferred Waqf property illegally said, its administrator Faiz Ahmed Bhuiyan. He said that they would send copies of the cancellation order to all Sub-Registrar Offices and AC (Land) offices so that people could not sell waqf property using previous orders of waqf administrators. It has been found that, in most of the cases, inheritors or managers had sold waqf property beyond the need for its development by taking permission from the waqf administrator before the enactment of the waqf (transfer and development of property) Special Provisions Act-2013 came into effect.
The waqf administrator is the only authority which can give permission for the transfer of waqf property, but such transfers should pass through a long process of scrutiny. According to the Waqf Act, no waqf property could be transferred by way of sale or perpetual lease unless it is considered to be indispensably required for the necessity, welfare and interest of the waqf or its beneficiaries. If the waqf properties could be used properly, it would help the government’s fight against poverty and by promoting religious messages the social evils such as corruption, illegal activities, sexual harassment and social crimes would be narrowed, and tolerance, peace and harmony would be restored. The government should take strong action to stop the selling of those endowed Waqf landed properties.
A national daily reported that the waqf administration would take initiatives to recover the properties which had already been transferred illegally by manipulating the administrator’s orders or by using fake orders. Waqf administration officials said they had also found that people had sold out waqf property even by managing permission from District Administration though only the waqf administrator had the authority to give such order. For example, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet had given permission to the Ghashitola Jaam-e-Mosque waqf estate mutwalli to sell out a portion of its land following recommendations of the Sylhet Sadar Assistant Commissioner (Land) in 2013.
The waqf administration, a organisation under Religious Affairs Ministry, had unearthed a number of cases where people showing old or fake orders of waqf administrator had transferred Waqf property illegally said, its administrator Faiz Ahmed Bhuiyan. He said that they would send copies of the cancellation order to all Sub-Registrar Offices and AC (Land) offices so that people could not sell waqf property using previous orders of waqf administrators. It has been found that, in most of the cases, inheritors or managers had sold waqf property beyond the need for its development by taking permission from the waqf administrator before the enactment of the waqf (transfer and development of property) Special Provisions Act-2013 came into effect.
The waqf administrator is the only authority which can give permission for the transfer of waqf property, but such transfers should pass through a long process of scrutiny. According to the Waqf Act, no waqf property could be transferred by way of sale or perpetual lease unless it is considered to be indispensably required for the necessity, welfare and interest of the waqf or its beneficiaries. If the waqf properties could be used properly, it would help the government’s fight against poverty and by promoting religious messages the social evils such as corruption, illegal activities, sexual harassment and social crimes would be narrowed, and tolerance, peace and harmony would be restored. The government should take strong action to stop the selling of those endowed Waqf landed properties.
