Dhaka: Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land ASM Saleh Ahmed today emphasized that land registration should be managed under the Ministry of Land.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Ahmed highlighted that land management in Bangladesh has traditionally been complex and a source of public inconvenience. He attributed this complexity to the dual control over land administration and land registration, where land administration is under the Ministry of Land and land registration falls under the Ministry of Law. This division, he argued, has led to administrative inconsistencies, complicating land management further.
Ahmed’s comments were made during a meeting at the Ministry of Land, which was convened to discuss aligning registration-related functions with the Land Ministry. This alignment follows recommendations from the Public Administration Reforms Commission, aimed at simplifying land services under a single framework.
Ahmed stressed the importance of collaboration among ministries to alleviate public suffering, noting that the effectiveness of service delivery should take precedence over departmental responsibilities. He pointed out that land registration is a crucial component of land management, involving the transfer of land ownership, execution of documents, registration, and record correction.
He explained that when different ministries manage various aspects of the same process, it disrupts information coordination, delays decision-making, and increases opportunities for corruption. He asserted that consolidating land registration under the Ministry of Land would help establish a unified authority and integrated management system, facilitating easier storage and verification of all land-related information.
Ahmed added that digital land management would see improvements, with reductions in document fraud, double registration, and record inconsistencies. He noted that the current system often results in protracted timelines for confirming ownership after land purchases. By placing land registration under the Ministry of Land’s direct supervision, public suffering could be reduced through streamlined services.
He concluded by saying that transferring land registration to the Ministry of Land would bring all land-related activities under an integrated framework, restoring discipline in land management and curbing corruption.
The meeting was attended by Chairman (Secretary) of the Land Reforms Board AJM Salauddin Nagri, Chairman of the Land Appeal Board Dr. Md Mahmud Hasan, additional secretaries of the ministry, and representatives from various ministries.