Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the adviser said Waqf assets would no longer be subject to “misuse and looting,” and that properties donated by benefactors would be utilized strictly for their intended purposes.
He said Bangladesh currently has around 614,517 acres of Waqf property. Of this, approximately 212,099 acres fall under Waqf-e-Aulad properties, while around 377,120 acres are classified as Waqf-e-Lillah properties.
According to the adviser, a large portion of these assets has remained in poor condition for years due to mismanagement, corruption, and administrative weaknesses. He said the condition of many Waqf properties had deteriorated significantly over the past 17 years because of inadequate oversight.
The adviser stated that the government wants to ensure that properties donated for mosques, madrasas, orphanages, and other welfare purposes are used in line with the intentions of the donors. Revenue generated from Waqf properties must also be spent in designated sectors, leaving no room for corruption, theft, or irregularities, he added.
Highlighting disparities in rental income, Kaikobad cited Gausia Market, a Waqf estate in the capital. He said the market contains 588 shops measuring 22.40 square feet each, yet monthly rents currently range from only 112 taka to a maximum of 2,118 taka — far below prevailing market rates in the surrounding area.
He also referred to a shop under the Chawkbazar Mosque Waqf-e-Lillah estate. According to him, the shop had previously been rented out for 35,000 taka per month. After the tenant was evicted and the property re-leased in 2025, the monthly rent reportedly rose to 252,000 taka.
“This shows that many Waqf properties have long been used at abnormally low rents compared to their actual market value,” he said.
The adviser added that there are numerous similar Waqf properties in Dhaka and other parts of the country from which proper revenue is not being collected. Following government directives, rents will now be adjusted in line with current market rates, and no irregularities or misuse of Waqf assets will be tolerated.
Asked about future plans, he said administrators had already been instructed to reassess and revise rental rates. He expressed hope that visible improvements would emerge within the next three months if the government’s measures are implemented effectively.
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