Land Secretary Md. Mustafizur Rahman, said that the online land development tax system is playing a significant role in preventing corruption in the land sector. Now people are not suffering while collecting receipts (Dakhila) after paying land development tax online. Receipts can be collected online right away after paying LD tax online.
The land secretary said this while presiding over a coordination meeting with the Divisional Commissioners in the conference room of the land ministry at the secretariat on Sunday, today.
Mustafizur Rahman said that Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS), which has recently been piloted in Patuakhali with the funding of the Bangladesh government, will bring a revolutionary change to the land management of Bangladesh. As this survey will take less time, the chances of corruption will also decrease. Preparation and issuance of draft Record of Rights (ROR) will also be completed digitally after preparation of the digital map. The most significant aspect of the map prepared in BDS is the Smart Map, from which the ownership information of the respective plot can be obtained by clicking on the map. “I believe BDS will reduce 60 percent land related cases in the country” – he added.
The Land Secretary called upon the Divisional Commissioners to take necessary measures to encourage payment of land development tax online at the local level. Besides, the secretary directed the Divisional Commissioners to take firm action to ensure that the documents/papers which are already in the government repository at the time of e-Mutation application are not demanded from the applicant again. He also requested to review the reporting dashboard regularly to monitor the progress of the activities of the field level land offices.
A presentation (PowerPoint presentation) at the conference shows that according to the latest review of the Ministry of Land, Dhaka Division is ahead of other divisions in collecting online land development tax, Rangpur Division in e-Mutation settlement in the shortest time, and Khulna Division in delivery of ROR and map by post. The land secretary hoped other divisions will also make rapid progress in providing various land services.
The Land Secretary announced today to provide a land service kiosk initially in each division. Land service kiosks will be set up in various populated areas such as stations, shops, office complexes, etc. Citizens will be able to print the required application and land record of rights by paying a fee.
Land issues such as online land development tax, e-Mutation, Digital record room, Inter-district land disputes, Construction of land offices, Manpower recruitment, etc. were discussed in the coordination meeting.
Land Appeal Board Chairman Dr. Amitabh Sarkar, Land Reform Board Chairman Soleman Khan, Director General of Land Records and Survey Department Md. Moyazzem Hossain, all the Divisional Commissioners of Bangladesh, and Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Land attended the meeting.
