Advocacy for the implementation of the Vested Property Return Act

Country: Bangladesh

Principal organisations: ALRD

A successful advocacy campaign by ALRD and its allies achieved the repeal of the Vested Property Act - which had nefarious impacts on the land rights of Hindu minorities - and the implementation of the Vested Property Return Act. Launched despite the substantial political risks of confronting powerful interest groups, the movement rallied around the cause a diverse group of stakeholders: civil society organizations, political parties and their representatives, media, as well as Hindu communities. The government passed the Act and its amendments in 2001 and 2011, drastically improving the life of millions of Hindus in Bangladesh.