Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s congratulatory message on the occasion of Land Service Week

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in her congratulatory message on the occasion of Land Service Week 2022, “We have taken initiatives so that the people of Bangladesh can avail of land services from home by calling 16122 or visiting land.gov.bd website”.

A recorded congratulatory message was given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Land Service Week was displayed at the inaugural event of Land Service Week 2022 on Thursday 19 May. Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the event. 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 PAA presided over the event.

Members of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Land Ministry Manoranjan Shil Gopal and Md. Habibar Rahman were present as honorary guests.

In her congratulatory message, the Prime Minister further said, “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the best Bengali nation of all time, has always worked to ensure the land rights of the people. He waived the land taxes up to 25 bighas. The socio-economic development of the people of Bangladesh was his only goal. The Awami League government has built a digital Bangladesh and has taken initiatives to digitize land management. You can take advantage of these two platforms to get land services. Our commitment is to establish efficient, transparent, and people-friendly land services. ”

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said in his speech that the three laws proposed by the land ministry passed in the cabinet today. With the cooperation of all, the Ministry of Land has come to a stage today, has gained the trust of the people. He added that the land ministry has started monitoring the performance of land officials, creating an environment for internal competition. He also congratulated the land award winner officials in the Land Service Week 2022 in recognition of their good work.

The chair of the parliamentary standing committee also expressed his views on making the mutation process easier. He said many poor people became destitute due to land disputes. Therefore, the complexity of the case must be reduced.

The land secretary said in his speech that 5 crore 13 lakh record of rights have been uploaded to online. He further said that work has been started to digitize the land acquisition process.

It has been decided to give awards to those working in the land office at the field level in recognition of their outstanding contribution in providing and implementing transparent, efficient, pro-people, and accountable land services every year from this year onwards. To provide inspiration, encouragement and recognition, and recognition of good works, 8 Best Assistant Commissioners (Lands) from 8 divisions were awarded today in their respective categories as Best Assistant Commissioners (Lands) at Division Level. The land minister presented crests and certificates to the winners.

Besides, Rangpur Zonal Settlement Officer Md. Ajmal Hossain has been awarded as Best Zonal Settlement Officer at the national level. Dhaka Zonal Settlement Office Charge Officer Md. Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan and Rangpur Zonal Settlement Office Charge Officer Md. Mamun ur Rashid have been awarded as Best Charge Officer at the national level. The land minister handed over crests and certificates as prizes to those who got the highest marks in the assessment.

Assistant Commissioner (Land), Kanungo, Surveyor, Union Land Assistant Officer, Union Land Deputy Assistant Officer, Zonal Settlement Officer, Charge Officer, Assistant Settlement Officer, Deputy Assistant Settlement Officer and Settlement Surveyors will be awared District and Zonal level next may 22 in their respective category.

Note that a policy has been prepared for the award this time. Transparency and impartiality have been given utmost importance in the policy for screening deserving candidates for the award. The final assessment is done through the land administration management system digitally based on the evaluation of the higher authorities of the concerned public servant. Special algorithms are followed to verify abnormal deviations in the evaluation.

The land minister inaugurated three new services of the land ministry today. The services are Land Service Kiosk, Land Revenue Case Management System, and Mobile Land Service Center.

Land service kiosks will be set up in various populated areas such as stations, shops, Upazila office complexes, etc. Citizens will be able to print the required application and land record of rights paying a fee. Land Revenue Case Management System will be used to manage all internal cases (Miss Case, Review, and Rent Certificate) on the same platform, supervise online case status, to manage civil cases and to create a database, etc. In addition, a mobile land service center will be used to raise awareness and advice on land issues in various places. The mobile land service center has been set up mainly for service week.

With the theme ‘Receive Land Service Without Going Land Office Land Service Week 2022 will be held from May 19 to May 23, 2022, in 8 divisions, 64 districts, and 507 Upazilas, revenue circles, unions, and municipal land offices. This time the issues of ‘Land service by call center at 16122’ and ‘Land service by post’ are being given utmost importance. During the service week, service booths will be set up at the respective land offices of each district, Upazila, and union, in local conference halls, or at any convenient places. Land services will be provided on a priority basis in the service booths, various land services will be informed, and consultancy services will be provided.

Land Management Domain Specialist of Land Management Automation Project and former Chief Secretary Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Land Reform Board Chairman Soleman Khan, Land Appeal Board Chairman Dr. Amitabh Sarkar, Director General of Land Records and Survey Department Md. Moyazzem Hossain along with officials of the Ministry of administration,Land and its affiliated departments/agencies and field administration attended the event among others.