Representational photo.

DHAKA, Aug 8, 2025 (BSS) - In a bold step towards modernization and accountability, the interim government has taken significant strides to revolutionize the land management system over the past year. 
 
By embracing full digitization, the government is committed to delivering hassle-free, corruption-free, and transparent land services that is aligned with the spirit of the July Uprising.
 
"The interim government has introduced a series of reforms over the past year to transform the land management system, making it hassle-free, transparent, and corruption-free, with a strong focus on serving the people's needs," said ASM Saleh Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Land Ministry told BSS recently.

He said the land management system has been digitized to put an end to the harassment, suffering and corruption and make it transparent and more people-friendly. 
 
Land services are being done through a digital transformation, he said, adding that the ministry has now created a Land Single Gateway through which the ministry's separate digital services will now be available at one platform.
 
By 2026, the goal of the Ministry of Land is that citizens should not have to go to the land office unless absolutely necessary, officials concerned said.
 
Arrangements should be made so that all land related information can be obtained with NID as the payment of compensation for land acquisition through iBUS has started, they said. 
 
Above all, people-friendly land services are the commitment of the Ministry of Land, they added.
 
The work of preparing accurate land records has started using modern technology and initiatives have been taken to make land management digital and people-friendly, officials said.
 
As a result of using GPS and geo-fencing of each land to resolve land complexity, the land owner will be able to get all types of information about his land on Google Earth, they said. 
 
In the next stage, a mapping of land ownership will be done with this survey, they added. 
 
On the other hand, revenue collection information, the process of deregistration and the current status of the case, if any, will be linked to all these issues, land officials said.
 
Sitting on a single gateway, the current status including ownership will be seen along with the digital map of the land, concerned officials of the land ministry sources said, adding that it has been open to the people on a trial basis since December 1, along with updating the existing software. 
 
There is no need to go to the land office in person to get land services. After the land is registered online with one's own mobile number, the land owner will be able to collect the parcel or khatian from home and pay the land development tax online. 
 
Online land rent, registration, deposit and withdrawal, khatian or parcel certified copy and mouza map or land development tax are being done online, sources said. 
 
As a result, the service recipients can easily receive these services online which save time, labor and cost, they said.

“These services can be received from anywhere in the country or abroad by sitting at home or through a call center. Since land services are digital, there is no opportunity for anyone to harass land owners”. 
 
The government wants to save the valuable time and money of the people and deliver services to their homes, officials said.
 
People are getting certified copies of Khatian and Mouza maps at their respective addresses by calling 09612316122 directly from other countries of the world or by applying directly through the Bhumiseba portal or the "e-Khatian" mobile app, they said. 
 
Any citizen from any part of the world at any time (24/7) can now receive registration, land development tax and Khatian services without coming to the land office through the call center and Citizen Land Service Center, they continued.

A Citizen Land Service Center has been set up on the ground floor of the Bhumi Bhaban established in the Tejgaon area of the capital. 
 
It is possible to pay land development tax online by calling 16122 from Bhumi Bhaban or registering with NID number from home through Bhumi Seva portal land.gov.bd or "Bhumi Unnayan Kar" mobile app. 
 
Along with paying the tax, citizens immediately receive an online QR code-rich submission, which is tantamount to the submission of the manual method and is acceptable everywhere.
 
Those who have complex problems with land deposits are provided with services on a priority basis during Bhumi Seva Week or Bhumi Mela in May every year and at the land offices. 
 
All land offices from the divisional commissioner's office to the union will provide services during Bhumi Seva Week or Bhumi Mela in May every year. Valuable suggestions are received from the customers through this program. The public is being directly introduced to land services through the fair. 
 
The collection rate of revenue is increasing compared to the past; as a result, the revenue income from land services has increased manifold. The fees collected online by land services vendors across the country are being displayed directly on the dashboard.
 
Currently, the amount deposited in the government treasury from land service fees is about Tk 10-12 every day, sources in the Land Ministry said. 
 
To prevent harassment, the Ministry of Land has started a new reform program in land services. Everything is being uploaded in a new way with changes. 
 
Land development tax, registration, paper or khatian and design are in great demand by the people. Land services have to be made available at low cost and easily accessible without harassment. 
 
Land development tax not only increases the government's revenue, those who pay land development tax get a Dakhila and this is necessary for ownership which ensures a kind of document and protection of the land, sources said.

“Surveillance has been increased so that no one suffers while receiving land services. To ensure corruption and harassment-free services, it is essential for the employees of the republic to work with integrity and efficiency”. 
 
A level of accountability has been maintained in all areas. No name issue for more than 28 days can be kept pending without special reasons. At the same time, all pending DCRs are tried to be settled by calling the citizen from the Excel list.
 
“No Union Land Assistant Officer will keep any citizen's application pending. All monitoring officers will regularly monitor this matter. The government has a zero tolerance policy to ensure land services. The ministry is monitoring through direct inspections locally,” officials said. 
 
In addition, UNO and AC Lands are also directly involved in land services. Investigations are conducted on the basis of complaints from the people. If the complaint is proven, action is taken as per the rules.