On the occasion of Land Service Week 2022, instructions have been given to expedite the effective implementation of various initiatives of land service digitization. Among the most important activities of land management, the Ministry of Land deals with namazari (mutation), land development tax, khatian / pamphlet, survey and land map. On the other hand, the Ministry of Law deals with land registration. Initiatives have been taken to coordinate with the Registration Department and Khatian Database under the Ministry of Land Law.
Registration and Mutation: Modern form for e-Registration will be launched soon. When this form is introduced, it will be understood whether there is any error in the application while applying. Namzari application can also be submitted through call centers. Citizens will no longer have to submit a copy of the land documents kept by the government at the time of namzari application. If applicable, registration will also be done on the basis of registration documents. There will be no need to re-register the land. If these initiatives are fully implemented, the suffering of land transfer will be reduced to a great extent. On the occasion of Land Service Week 2022, an initiative has been taken to launch new forms on fast track basis. It is hoped that the new form will be launched next month. So far, out of 65 lakh Namzari application, 57 lakh applications have been disposed off.
By the way, Land Service Week 2022 was inaugurated on Thursday 19th May under the theme “Accept Land Services without coming to Land Office”. The (recorded) greeting message given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Land Service Week was displayed on the occasion. Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the inaugural function. Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Land Ministry Md. Maqbool Hossain was present on the occasion as a special guest. Land Secretary Md. Mostafizur Rahman presided over the PAA function. Service Week is scheduled to run until May 23, 2022. Today, on the 22nd, the concerned divisional commissioners of 8 divisions of Bangladesh will exchange views and hold press conferences on land services with the local media. Land offices across the country have set up service camps to provide services.
Ledger / leaflet: 5 crore 13 lakh ledgers have been digitized so far. The number of ledgers created from one ledger to the next can also be known from the digital system. This will show the balance between the amount of land under the original ledger and the amount of land in the other ledger under the original ledger. In addition, if the Khatian database registration process is coordinated, there will be no chance of repeated sale of the same land and counterfeit documents will be prevented. At the same time, the accuracy of the document is now being verified with QR code.
Survey and Map: Through ‘Mouza and Plot Based Digital Land Zoning’ project, land use plans will be formulated in all the mouzas of the country by making maps through digital and satellite images. The purchase plan of the National Digital Land Zoning Project based on Mouza and Plot has been approved on 12 May 2022. Arrangements will be made to digitize 1 lakh 36 thousand 412 mouzas of the country. The purchased satellite land images will be synchronized with the digitized map. If this project is implemented, an effective digital cadastral map will be created. One click will show ‘what is the class of land’ and ‘who is the owner of the land’. Besides, ‘Bangladesh Digital Survey’ or ‘BDS’ will be launched in Patuakhali and Barguna districts in a few days, which will be extended to all districts in phases. After the completion of BDS, there will be no need to go to the field level in Bangladesh to conduct real estate survey or cadastral survey.
Land Development Tax: 2.5 crore holdings have been digitized, the rest will be completed very soon. People are now able to pay land tax without going to the union land office. At present land tax is being collected in two ways – with or without registration with NID. The feature of the system of direct land development tax payment without registration with NID number is that the land development tax can be paid to the land owner who has registered and completed the holding entry without entering the profile of the land owner in the main land development tax system. In other words, any person can pay land development tax on behalf of others.
This arrangement would be convenient for overworked people. However, to ensure the security of the property, it will be ensured that only the original owner of the land can accept the receipt. The issue of handing over the receipt instantly while the land development tax is being paid is also under consideration.
So far, about 38 million beneficiaries have registered to pay land development tax at no extra cost. 3 crore land data has already been converted from manual to digital. About 70 percent of the citizens have paid land development tax transparently. Harassment of at least 50 percent of citizens has decreased. Every day 30-40 lakh taka has been immediately deposited in the government treasury.
Overall Management: The ‘Land Management Automation Project’ has been adopted to automate land management in the whole country by 2025. There are plans to introduce a “Certificate of Land Ownership” instead of many of the above documents to prove land ownership.
Laws and Regulations: Land Reform Act, Land Development Tax Act and Haats and Markets (Establishment and Management) Act have already been approved by the Cabinet. In addition, several necessary laws, including the Land Ownership and Use Act and the Prevention and Remedy of Land Crime, will be sent to the Cabinet for approval very soon.
The purpose of the Land Revenue Case Management System is to manage all internal cases (Miss Case, Review and Rent Certificate) on the same platform, to monitor online case status monitoring, to manage civil cases and to create a complete database.
In addition, land service kiosks have been set up in various populated areas such as stations, shops, upazila office complexes, etc. Citizens will be able to print land ledger and land map for the required fee. You can pay land development tax. You will also know the update of Namjari application.
The Ministry of Land has started monitoring the performance of land officials, creating an environment of internal competition. In recognition of good work, on the occasion of Land Service Week 2022, 8 Assistant Commissioners (Land) have been awarded at the divisional level and 1 Zonal Settlement Officer and 2 Charge Officers at the national level.
On Sunday, 22nd May, The best land officers are awarded in the category of their titles: Assistant Commissioners (Land), Kanungo, Surveyors, Union Land Assistant Officers, Union Land Sub-Assistant Officers, Assistant Settlement Officers, Deputy Assistant Settlement Officers and Settlement Surveyors at the district and zonal level in 64 districts of Bangladesh.
With the enactment of necessary laws and regulations and overall land management being fully digital, land management in Bangladesh will undergo a groundbreaking and radical change and unprecedented progress will be made in efficient and sustainable land management.
