A total of 26 islands or chars emerged in the Bay of Bengal, near the three coastal districts - Noakhali, Cox's Bazar and Chittagong - in the last 10 years.
Bangladesh, with the emergence of the chars, got a total of 125,370 acres of land during the period.
Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif came up with the revelation in the Parliament on Monday while replying to a starred question from Awami League lawmaker Pinu Khan (Reserved Seat-23.)
According to a BSS report, the Minister said Bangladesh got 75,874 acres of land from five islands or chars emerged in Noakhali district while 18,913 acres of lands from two chars in Chittagong and 30,583 acres of lands from 19 chars in Cox's Bazar.
He said any settlement has yet to be developed in the islands or chars.
The Minister said no project has been undertaken for the rise of underwater islands or chars.
In reply to a starred question from ruling party MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury (Bhola-3), the Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju told the House that the government has taken a project for afforestation in the newly-emerged chars in the southern coastal areas of the country.
The project involving Tk 1.05 billion is waiting for approval, he added.
