Senior Secretary Stresses Social Synergy for Stronger Land Services

Although all land-related services in Bangladesh have been brought online, citizens are yet to fully adapt to digital service delivery, observed Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land, A.S.M. Saleh Ahmed. He emphasized the need for administrative officers to enhance social engagement to bridge this gap.

He made the remarks while addressing the closing ceremony of the 45th and 46th Basic Land Management Courses for newly appointed Assistant Commissioners (Land) held on Thursday, September 9, at the Land Administration Training Centre (LATC) in Dhaka.

A total of 100 Assistant Commissioners (Land) participated in the five-week-long training course. At the beginning of the event, several trainees shared their reflections, followed by the keynote address from the Senior Secretary.

“The foundation of a nation’s economy, agriculture, habitation, and industry lies in land,” said A.S.M. Saleh Ahmed. “Therefore, land management and services are directly connected to people’s lives. To make this system efficient and transparent, the role of Assistant Commissioners (Land) is extremely important. You must uphold integrity and ethics to maintain the image of the administration. People should be able to say that the Assistant Commissioner (Land) neither takes bribes nor harasses anyone.”

He urged the officers to apply their training to deliver timely and quality public service with dedication. “Remember, people look to the land office as their place of trust for resolving land-related issues. You must turn the land office into a true symbol of public confidence.”

Addressing the challenges in the sector, he said, “Land is an area with many problems and complaints. These must be managed through law and justice. You have to present yourselves as people-friendly officers and take leadership roles in your workplaces, staying socially involved. Administrative cadre officers must gain specialized knowledge beyond general skills. Many Assistant Commissioners (Land) have already become well-known for their people-oriented service—you should follow their example. Otherwise, the very existence of the administrative cadre could be undermined.”

He also urged them to bring “a change in mindset and moral growth,” cautioning, “Never take the unlawful path. Work to establish justice in society and address global challenges responsibly.”

Highlighting the need for citizen-centric governance, the Senior Secretary added, “Although 100 percent of land services have been digitized, citizens are not yet accustomed to using them online. It is your responsibility to help them. Work courageously for the benefit of the people. The nation places great trust in the administrative cadre officers, who play a crucial role in governance, public service delivery, and implementing development initiatives.”

He expressed hope that the newly trained Assistant Commissioners (Land) would set bright examples in their workplaces and contribute to strengthening field administration.

The event was also attended by Land Reform Board Chairman (Secretary) A.J.M. Salahuddin Nagri, Director General (Grade-1) of the Directorate of Land Records and Surveys Major Saidur Rahman, and Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Land Md. Emdadul Haque Chowdhury as special guests. The welcome address was delivered by Deputy Director (Finance and Administration) of LATC, Khan A. Sabur Khan, while Acting Director of LATC Rumana Rahman Shampa chaired the ceremony.

Notably, the duties of Assistant Commissioners (Land) include land mutation, record correction through submission and amalgamation, management of abandoned and khas lands, civil case management, recovery of government dues, and updating land registers. The basic land management course acquaints officers with the latest government directives, laws, regulations, and manuals to safeguard state interests. The event concluded with the distribution of crests and certificates among the top-performing trainees by the Senior Secretary.