The Ministry of Land has been nominated for the ‘Bangabandhu Public Administration Award 2022’ at the institutional level in the reform category for the ‘Land Data Bank’ established with the aim of proper maintenance and management of government properties with transparency and efficiency.
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury conveyed his warm wishes and congratulations to all those associated with the ‘Land Data Bank’ (Bhumi Tothiya Bank) initiative as the Ministry of Land was nominated for the Bangabandhu Public Administration Medal. He said while expressing reaction, that the ‘Land Data Bank’ has been set up as part of the implementation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s special initiative ‘Digital Bangladesh’, which will help in the efficient and effective utilization of government land resources. The benefits of this initiative are now clearly visible.
The land minister added that efficient land administration is imperative to provide efficient land services. Land Data Bank is one of the initiatives to make land administration efficient. Through this, it is now possible for land administration to take data-driven policymaking and decision-making.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Land Data Bank on September 8th of the last year (2021).
Public Administration Ministry Senior Secretary K M Ali Azam confirmed Land Secretary Md Mustafizur Rahman PAA the nomination for the above award yesterday evening on 18 July 2022 by a letter.
The information of all government properties including Jal-Mahal (Water bodies), Balu-Mahal (sand quarries), Laban-Mahal (Salt field), Cha-Bagan (Tea Estate), Chingri-Mahal (Shrimp Field), Abandoned Property, Haat-Bazar (Market), Acquisition, Khas Land, Vested Property is being updated and stored to the Land Data Bank. Meanwhile, 38 thousand 743 Jala-Mahals, 518 Balu-Mahals, 151 Cha-Bagans, 150 Laban-Mahals, 1 thousand 581 Chingri-Mahals, 9 thousand 628 Haat-Bazars, and 37 thousand 30 acres acquisition-related information has been updated on the Land Data Bank. In this context, the Land Secretary said that about 85 percent of the data has been updated.
This information can be used by the concerned officials of important offices, including AC Land, Deputy Commissioner, and Divisional Commissioner’s office across the country. 24 hours updates, the entire week’s information, and even the detailed land information of Upazila, District, Division, and national level could be obtained by a click.
At the same time, the system of leasing these government properties is also being developed. As a result, it is becoming possible to transparently and efficiently lease out government properties to the concerned bona fide professionals and businessmen. Jalmahal application system has already been launched.
Besides, this initiative has resulted in a significant increase in the rate of revenue collection from various sources in the country as well as an increase in the rate of recovery of government property from illegal possession and a reduction in the incidence of touts and frauds.
The establishment of 'Land Data Bank' is enabling on one hand to protect the government's interest through the collection of Land Development Tax, protection of Khas Land, and proper management of Vested property; on the other hand, it will facilitate the government to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring transparent and accountable land services and participation of all people.
The Land Ministry, in recognition of its work, has earlier won the prestigious ‘United Nations Public Service Award’ for the e-Mutation system and the prestigious WSIS Prize for Land Development Tax from the International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations.
