Article 143 Property of the Republic
Property of the Republic
It is the constitutional basis of state ownership of gas, coal and offshore resources. Investors in energy and mining deal with the state, through licences and production sharing contracts, because of this Article.
A survey discovers a natural gas field under farmland owned by villagers in Sylhet. The villagers own the surface land, but Article 143(1)(a) vests all minerals and other things of value underlying any land of Bangladesh in the Republic.
Because the gas belongs to the Republic, the government, through the state energy company, signs an exploration or production sharing contract with a company. The company gains rights to extract and share the gas, but not ownership of the resource in the ground.
The same rule applies at sea. Resources beneath the territorial waters and over the continental shelf belong to the Republic, so offshore gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal are offered to investors through government bidding rounds rather than sold outright.
Under clause (2) Parliament defines by law the boundaries of the territory, territorial waters and continental shelf. The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act sets these zones, and was revised after international maritime boundary rulings.
In plain English
How Article 143 works
Article 143 says what belongs to the state. In addition to land and property the Republic already lawfully owns, it owns all minerals and other valuable things under any land in Bangladesh. It also owns all land, minerals and valuables under the sea within the territorial waters or over the continental shelf, and any property in Bangladesh that has no rightful owner. Parliament may make laws fixing the boundaries of the country's territory, territorial waters and continental shelf. So even if you own a plot of land, gas or coal found deep beneath it belongs to the Republic.
In practice
Article 143 underpins the state's control of natural gas, coal, hard rock and offshore hydrocarbons. Exploration is licensed under petroleum and mining laws, and compensation is paid to landowners for surface land acquired, not for minerals beneath it. Bangladesh's maritime boundaries with Myanmar and India were settled by international tribunals in 2012 and 2014, and Parliament later amended the maritime zones law to reflect the resulting boundaries. Property with no rightful owner, such as unclaimed estates, also vests in the Republic under clause (1)(c).
The text
What Article 143 says
143. (1) There shall vest in the Republic, in addition to any other land or property lawfully vested –
(a) all minerals and other things of value underlying any land of Bangladesh;
(b) all lands, minerals and other things of value underlying the ocean within the territorial waters, or the ocean over the continental shelf, of Bangladesh; and
(c) any property located in Bangladesh that has no rightful owner.
(2) Parliament may from time to time by law provide for the determination of the boundaries of the territory of Bangladesh and of the territorial waters and the continental shelf of Bangladesh.
English text as published on the official Laws of Bangladesh website. Where a court has changed the position, the status note above explains it.
Connected provisions
Related articles
Questions
Article 143: frequently asked questions
Who owns minerals under private land in Bangladesh?
The Republic does. Article 143(1)(a) vests all minerals and other things of value underlying any land of Bangladesh in the Republic, regardless of who owns the surface land. Landowners may be compensated for surface land, but not for the minerals.
Who owns offshore oil and gas in Bangladesh?
The Republic. Under Article 143(1)(b), all lands, minerals and other things of value under the ocean within the territorial waters or over the continental shelf of Bangladesh vest in the Republic, which licenses exploration to companies.
Sources
This guide explains the Constitution for general understanding. It is not legal advice. Constitutional reform proposals under discussion in 2026 are described as proposals until enacted.
Constitutional and writ practice
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