Prime minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said that the government would like to build a modern, technology-based and citizen-friendly land management system so that people no longer had to suffer harassment or make unnecessary visits to government offices for land services.
‘There is no alternative to a transparent, accountable and people-friendly land management system for building a just and modern state,’ he said while inaugurating the three-day nationwide Land Service Fair-2026.
The prime minister also said that providing services for citizens was not an act of charity but a responsibility of the state.
‘I would like to draw the attention of the minister of the land ministry and all officials and employees concerned that providing services is not a favour to the people; rather, ensuring public service is our duty. Our goal is to build a land management system where people will no longer have to go from office to office unnecessarily to receive land services, nor will they have to suffer from corruption or harassment,’ he said.
Tarique Rahman also said that the government aimed to establish a corruption-free, harassment-free, technology-driven and citizen-friendly land management system that would further accelerate the country’s sustainable development.
He inaugurated the fair by pressing a button at the Bhumi Bhaban at Tejgaon. The fair is being held simultaneously in districts and upazilas across the country from May 19 to 21.
The prime minister described land not merely as a property but as a source of security, economic stability, livelihood and future certainty for people. ‘From this realisation, the present government is working to deliver state services at people’s doorsteps with a commitment to making land management free from harassment and corruption.’
Referring to the growing pressure on land resources, he said, ‘The amount of per capita land is decreasing due to population growth, while the economic value of land is increasing rapidly.’
As a result, land disputes, lawsuits and complications are also increasing. In many cases, these disputes are destroying peace in individuals and families and are also creating obstacles to national development activities, Tarique Rahman said.
In this context, he stressed the importance of planned land use, accurate record preservation and efficient management.
At the beginning of his speech, the prime minister highlighted the government’s initiatives to simplify land-related services through digitalisation.
Narrating the government’s digitalisation efforts, he said, ‘People are now getting opportunities to complete many land-related services online from home, including payment of land development tax and e-mutation applications.’
Tarique Rahman said that people previously had to visit land offices physically for matters related to ownership, khajna, deeds, khatian, mutation, mouza records and surveys, including CS, RS and DS.
‘With technological advancement, land management has also become modernised. Service recipients can now complete land-related processes online from home,’ he said.
For those unable to use online systems independently, the prime minister said, ‘The government has introduced land service assistance centres.’
He also mentioned that 893 land service assistance centres had already been launched in 61 districts under private management to help citizens who were unable to access online services on their own.
Tarique Rahman said that the government planned to gradually establish such centres in every union across the country.
He also mentioned the launch of the mobile app ‘Bhumi’ to bring land services directly into the hands of citizens.
The prime minister said that modernising land management and introducing more technology-based services would help reduce land disputes and the suffering of citizens, while also limiting the influence of middlemen in land offices.
He also said that the ongoing land fair would help increase public awareness regarding modern land management systems and citizens’ responsibilities.
Tarique Rahman said that the Ministry of Land was working to prepare accurate land records through digital surveys and modern technology. ‘Efforts are also under way to bring almost all land administration services under digital platforms for faster and easier public access.’
He said that the BNP had pledged in its 31-point reform plan and election manifesto to modernise land management and organise land service fairs across the country. ‘Through this fair, the government has fulfilled another commitment made to the people.’
The prime minister said that the government was gradually implementing all promises made to the people through its election manifesto and reform commitments.
‘Not only in land management, but in every sector, the government wants to remain accountable to the people through citizen-friendly programmes,’ he added.
Referring to the country’s judicial backlog, Tarique Rahman said that more than 47 lakh civil and criminal cases were currently pending in courts across the country, with land-related disputes accounting for the largest share.
‘So, one of the government’s main priorities now is the quickest possible disposal of pending court cases,’ he said.
The prime minister also stressed the need to expand the use of alternative dispute resolution, including village courts, mediation, arbitration and mutual settlement mechanisms, to resolve land disputes outside conventional courts.
Quoting Albert Einstein, he said, ‘Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.’
Tarique Rahman said that effective use of ADR in land and civil disputes would help reduce court backlogs and allowed disputes to be resolved more quickly and peacefully.
During the fair, citizens will receive services, including e-mutation applications, online land development tax payment, record correction, certified copies of khatians and land-related complaint support.
State minister for land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin and land secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed spoke at the programme with land minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu in the chair.
