ZCZC
BSS-28
KHULNA-DIGITAL-LAND-SERVICE
Digital land service benefitting Khulna people
KHULNA, Jan 11, 2021 (BSS) – People from all walks of life here are now getting benefit from digital land service introduced by the district administration.
“Khulna district administration has launched digital land services to help reduce indiscipline and illegal land grabbing,” said a government official.
For the last one year, all services related to land are being conducted through online in Khulna, he said, adding such service using online apps is being provided here for the first time in the country.
The digital land service has increased revenue collection as well, he continued.
While talking to BSS, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) Ziaur Rahman said, the best part of such online service is to scan and archive files which ensure the longevity of the information.
Anyone can find the complete information related to any land and it also help decide of renewing any lease by getting proper information of any lease case, he said.
There is also an option in the software to get reports which help get information related to land location, duration of lease, value of the lease, current lease holder, classification of the land and Government`s debt, he added.
Khulna deputy commissioner Md Helal Hossain said one of the most important tasks of the district administration is to earn revenue through different land related services and the process to do so is quite challenging.
As the population is growing, there may be an opportunity to grab land illegally, he said, adding that due to limited number of officials, it sometimes becomes quite difficult to keep an eye on the issue.
“I went to visit a union land office and saw the pages of the government record book were torn and few pages were missing in 2019. Since then the process to build a database started using pictures of different services and information related to land,” the DC said.
This is the first time in Bangladesh a database was made up using pictures of Government properties, he said, adding that once the database was made up, the district administration took initiatives to bring the entire land related services to online platform.
As part of it, abandoned land, Hat-Bazaar, demesne, Jalmohal and other services related to land have been converted into a digital wing which is also online now.
Such initiatives are helping reduce corruptions related to land management and also made the service much faster, the DC said.
“We have achieved hundred percent successes after the experimental phase was over. The income of revenue has increased in every department of Khulna district administration,” he said.
A total revenue of 4 crore 66 lakh 60 thousand was earned in the Bengali year of 1426 from Haat Bazaars lease which has been recorded.
Besides, revenue from Jolmohal has increased to 40.31 percent and vested property to 30 percent.
Helal Hossain said “we will keep the software updated and as a result new features will be added to the apps.”
If it is possible to implement this software throughout the country, it can become a milestone in every service related to land management, he said.
BSS/ SPL/ZH/GMR/1750 hrs