'We must work as people's servants to change the society': Land adviser

The government has been working for people's overall welfare as per expectations from the students leaders and the public, LGRD and Land Affairs Adviser AF Hassan Arif said today (2 September).

"We have to work as servants to the people, not as masters, to bring changes in the society," he told a meeting discussing different projects undertaken by the land ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat today.

The adviser said the government will take necessary steps to transfer the activities of the Land Registration Department from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to the Ministry of Land Affairs to reduce people's sufferings.

Hassan Arif said since the land registration process is manual, the common people are being subjected to huge harassment to get e-mutation, land tax payment and holding number as well from the land office.

"There is always frustration among the people centering the land survey system," he added.

The adviser directed officials concerned to take special initiatives to reduce public sufferings by digitising the survey work in the days to come.

Expressing his satisfaction over the ongoing activities of the land management automation project, Hassan Arif suggested adopting more transparent, accountable and people-friendly strategies through social motivation.

He also sought a positive as well as supportive role of the mass media to gear up land management of the government.

During the meeting, Land Management Automation Project Director Md Iftekher Hossain and Deputy Secretary Salim Ahmed presented the overall project outlines before the adviser at the conference room of the ministry.

Land Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman, Land Reform Board Chairman Md Abdus Sabur Mandol and Land Appeal Board Chairman Muhammad Ibrahim, among others, were present there.