Dhaka: A total of 17 land-related services will be made available online by July this year as the land management automation project progresses. The government undertook the 'Land Management Automation Project' at a cost of Taka 1,197.03 crore, which is expected to be completed by June 30. Additionally, another project costing Taka 1,212.55 crore aims to enhance digital survey conducting capacity.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Land Ministry Md Emdadul Haque Chowdhury emphasized four key issues during the automation project implementation: online land mutation, online issuance of porcha, online map display, and online issuance of land certificates.
The land ministry outlined the 17 services, including e-mutation, review and appeal case management, online land development tax collection, rent certificate case management, mutated Khatian, digital land record, mouza map delivery, miss case management, agri and non-agri khas land management, vested property management, land acquisition management, and internal budget management.
As part of the automation, application software will be developed to deliver these services to citizens. This software will be interconnected with other government services. Approximately 3.08 crore people have registered with the software to pay land development taxes, and three crore land-related records have been digitized. Around 70 percent of landowners are now paying taxes efficiently, reducing the difficulties faced by over 50 percent of the population. Daily, Tk 30 to Tk 40 lakh is being deposited into the government treasury due to the system's automation.
Government policymakers noted that over 80 percent of criminal cases in the country arise from land disputes, which are expected to decrease significantly with the automation of land management.
Sources in the ministry disclosed that Taka 915.90 crore has been sanctioned for procuring software and instruments for the project during the 2024-2025 financial year. This will link with 5,247 land offices nationwide. Necessary hardware will be supplied, and training programs will be conducted to enhance the efficiency of land officials.