Staff Correspondent

The goal of Bangladesh Digital Survey is to establish one person, one khatian (Record of Rights- ROR) and one Daag (Plot)' system. If this is implemented, the amount of citizen harassment and land-related lawsuits will be reduced significantly.

Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda said this while addressing a seminar on 'Bangladesh Digital Land Survey and Land Management Program' as the chief guest at the conference room of Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner's office here on Wednesday morning.

The seminar was organized by the 'Establishment of Digital Land Management System' project under the Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS).

Land Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman presided over the seminar while Director General of Land Record and Survey Department Anis Mahmud was present as the chief discussant. Deputy Commissioner of Narayanganj Mohammad Mahmudul Haque delivered the welcome address. EDLMS Project Director Md. Zahurul Haque made a visual presentation on BDS.

The Land Minister said that the successful implementation of smart land management and the Bangladesh Digital Survey is very important to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken initiatives to establish a fair land management system in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken initiatives to implement smart land management and digital surveys to build Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.

The land minister hoped that the preparation of maps under the Bangladesh Digital Survey in six areas of the country, including Narayanganj, will start in July next, which will be completed successfully. Initiatives have been taken to involve citizens in BDS operations comprehensively through communication and campaigning activities, he added.

Land service digitalization and Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS) programs have been undertaken as one of the implementation of 31 specific directives given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2014. Through these activities, the fear of corruption has been reduced to a great extent as land-related transactions are completed online.

The Land Secretary said, that land services digitalization and Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS) programs have been taken as one of the implementation of 31 specific directives directed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2014. As land-related transactions are completed online through these programs, the risk of corruption has been reduced to a great extent.

Project officials said at the seminar that some matters will be kept in mind in the BDS operation. If the land outside the ceiling is found during the survey, then the additional land will be brought to Khas Khatian and the rest of the land will be recorded in the name of the individual. And in the case of government land, measures will be taken according to the verdict of the civil court. Moreover, all the information on the land can be found by clicking on the digital map created under BDS. Also, if the record is corrected, the map will be partitioned digitally, said the project officials.

DLRS Director Mohammad Abdul Kader Sheikh, DLRS Director Md. Mominur Rashid, Dhaka Zonal Settlement Officer Md. Mizanur Rahman, concerned officials of the Ministry of Land, Land Record and Survey Department, EDLMS Project, and Narayanganj District Administration, and officials of the project partners from South Korea were present in the meeting. Narayanganj District Awami League President Heroic Freedom Fighter Abdul Hai, City Corporation Councilors, local elites, stakeholders, media, and civil society representatives were also present. It is to be noted that BDS operation will be started in 32 more upazilas of the country through another project.