The Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949 governs the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants of non-agricultural land in Bangladesh. It applies to all tenancies of land used for residential, commercial, industrial, or other non-agricultural purposes within the territory of Bangladesh, excepting premises covered by the Premises Rent Control Act, 1991 in urban areas. The Act defines key concepts including landlord, tenant, rent, and tenancy (Section 2), and establishes the legal framework for the creation, transfer, and termination of non-agricultural tenancies. Key mechanisms include the requirement for a written tenancy agreement, the regulation of rent increases, the grounds upon which a landlord may evict a tenant (including non-payment of rent, subletting without consent, and requirement for bona fide personal use), and the procedure for eviction through the court. The Act also provides for the rights of tenants to make improvements to the property and to claim compensation for such improvements upon termination of the tenancy (Section 8). Notable provisions include the protection of tenants from arbitrary eviction, the requirement for landlords to give reasonable notice before termination, the regulation of rent to prevent excessive increases, and the provision for deposit of rent with the court when the landlord refuses to accept payment. The Act applies only to tenancies created after its commencement and operates alongside other tenancy and property laws in Bangladesh. The Act remains in force as an important part of the land law framework in Bangladesh.
Full text · showing key sections
§ 1Short title, extent and commencement
§ 2Definitions
§ 3Classes of non-agricultural tenants
§ 4Purposes for which non-agricultural tenant may hold non-agricultural land
§ 5Tenancies held by a non-agricultural tenant
§ 6Manner of use of non-agricultural lands
§ 7Incidents of certain tenancies
§ 8Renewals of lease of tenancies held for not less than twelve years and succession to, and transfer of, such tenancies
§ 9AComputation of the period of possession
§ 9Incidents of non-agricultural tenancies held for less than twelve years
§ 10Special provisions applicable to tenancies for specific religious purposes
§ 11[Omitted.]
§ 12[Omitted.]
§ 13[Omitted.]
§ 14[Omitted.]
§ 15[Omitted.]
§ 16Application of Chapter
§ 17[Omitted.]
§ 18[Omitted.]
§ 19[Omitted.]
§ 20Ejectment of an under-tenant
§ 21Other incidents of tenancies of under-tenants
§ 22Special incidents of a permanent tenancy of an under-tenant
§ 23Manner of transfer of non-agricultural land and notices to landlords
§ 24Power of the co-sharer or the immediate landlord of transferor to purchase
§ 25Saving as to statements in instruments of transfer where landlord is not a party
§ 26Interpretation
§ 26ABar to sub-let
§ 64Definition of “improvement”
§ 65Rights to make improvements
§ 66Collector to decide question as to right to make improvement, etc.
§ 67[Omitted]
§ 68Application to record evidence as to improvement
§ 69[Omitted.]
§ 70No ejectment except in execution of decree
§ 71Application of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, or other law
§ 72[Omitted.]
§ 73[Omitted.]
§ 74[Omitted.]
§ 75Relief against forfeitures in certain cases
§ 76[Omitted.]
§ 77Delivery of possession of land sold for arrears of rent which has any structure erected on it by a non-agricultural tenant
§ 78[Omitted.]
§ 79[Omitted.]
§ 80[Omitted.]
§ 81[Omitted.]
§ 82[Omitted.]
§ 83[Omitted.]
§ 84[Omitted.]
§ 85AAppeal
The Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1949 governs the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants of non-agricultural land in Bangladesh. It applies to all tenancies of land used for residential, commercial, industrial, or other non-agricultural purposes within the territory of Bangladesh, excepting premises covered by the Premises Rent Control Act, 1991 in urban areas. The Act defines key concepts including landlord, tenant, rent, and tenancy (Section 2), and establishes the legal framework for the creation, transfer, and termination of non-agricultural tenancies. Key mechanisms include the requirement for a written tenancy agreement, the regulation of rent increases, the grounds upon which a landlord may evict a tenant (including non-payment of rent, subletting without consent, and requirement for bona fide personal use), and the procedure for eviction through the court. The Act also provides for the rights of tenants to make improvements to the property and to claim compensation for such improvements upon termination of the tenancy (Section 8). Notable provisions include the protection of tenants from arbitrary eviction, the requirement for landlords to give reasonable notice before termination, the regulation of rent to prevent excessive increases, and the provision for deposit of rent with the court when the landlord refuses to accept payment. The Act applies only to tenancies created after its commencement and operates alongside other tenancy and property laws in Bangladesh. The Act remains in force as an important part of the land law framework in Bangladesh.