17 land-related services will be available online by July this year

A total of 17 land-related services will be made available online by July this year as the land management automation is progressing fast, according to official sources.

The government earlier took 'Land Management Automation Project' at a cost of Tk1,197.03 crore, which is expected to be completed on 30 June, the official said, adding that the government earlier took another project at a cost of Tk1,212.55 crore for enhancing the digital survey conducting capacity.

Talking to BSS today, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Land Ministry Md Emdadul Haque Chowdhury said the government has laid emphasis on four issues during the implementation of the automation project. 

"These four issues are land mutation through online, issuing porcha through online, display of map through online and issuing land certificates online."

According to the land ministry, the 17 services are e-mutation, review and appeal case management, collection of land development tax through online, rent certificate case management, mutated Khatian, digital land record, mouza map delivery system, miss case management system, 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 the 17 services to the citizens, the ministry official said, adding that this software would be interlinked with the other services of the government.

The ministry official said that some 3.08 crore people have so far registered with the software without additional expenses to pay their land development taxes and three crore land related information have already been digitized through this system. 

At least 70% land owners of the country have been paying their taxes without any hassle and the sufferings of more than 50% people have reduced, the official said, adding that an amount ranging from Tk30 to Tk40 lakh is being deposited to the government treasury instantly daily due to the automation of the system.

The policymakers of the government observed that more than 80% criminal cases of the country take place due to land disputes, which are expected to come down drastically through the land management automation system.

Sources in the ministry told BSS that the ministry has sanctioned Tk915.90 crore for procuring software and other instruments for the project during the 2024-2025 financial year that will link with 5,247 land offices across the country. Necessary hardware will also be supplied to those offices and training programmes will be arranged for enhancing the efficiency of the land officials, the sources added.