DHAKA, May 20, (V7N) – A total of 17 land-related services are set to be made available online by July of this year, as the land management automation project is progressing rapidly, according to official sources.

The government had previously undertaken the ‘Land Management Automation Project’ at a cost of Taka 1,197.03 crore, which is expected to be completed by June 30. An official added that the government also initiated another project costing Taka 1,212.55 crore to enhance digital survey conducting capacity.

Speaking to BSS today, Additional Secretary (Development) of the Land Ministry Md Emdadul Haque Chowdhury stated that the government has prioritized four key aspects during the implementation of the automation project: online land mutation, online issuance of porcha (record of rights), online display of maps, and online issuance of land certificates.

According to the land ministry, the 17 services to be automated include e-mutation, review and appeal case management, online collection of land development tax, 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 effort, application software will be developed to deliver these 17 services to citizens, and this software will be interlinked with other government services, a ministry official confirmed.

The ministry official reported that approximately 3.08 crore people have already registered with the software without additional expenses to pay their land development taxes, and three crore land-related pieces of information have been digitized through this system. At least 70 percent of the country's landowners are now paying their taxes without hassle, and the difficulties faced by over 50 percent of people have been reduced. The official added that between Tk 30 lakh to Tk 40 lakh is being deposited daily into the government treasury instantly due to the automation of the system.

Government policymakers have observed that more than 80 percent of criminal cases in the country stem from land disputes, a figure expected to drastically decrease with the implementation of the land management automation system.

Sources within the ministry informed BSS that the ministry has sanctioned Taka 915.90 crore for procuring software and other instruments for the project during the 2024-2025 financial year. This system will connect with 5,247 land offices nationwide. Necessary hardware will also be supplied to these offices, and training programs will be organized to enhance the efficiency of land officials, the sources added.

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