Land has always been a source of conflict. Our Land management system has been characterized by such inefficiency and mystery that makes ownership disputes more complicated. The registration offices have been an outcrop of corruption within public administration. Government has launched its Digital Land Management System to introduce transparency and to make services more accessible by all of society. Yet there remains various shortcomings and obstacles.
The Digital Land Record Management System (DLRMS) allows the citizens to search for khatians (record of rights), apply for certified copies, and access land-related information via online. According to the DLRMS official portal (2024), more than five million land records have been digitized. Moreover, the government has added GIS and satellite mapping in selected districts to find out issues in cadastral maps.
Transition of manual to digital systems have faced many challenges. According to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) reports, over 60% of rural land offices mainly depend on records which are kept manually, as there is poor internet access and absence of killed workers (TIB Report, 2022). This hinders the pace of project implementation and increases inequality of digital services between urban and rural areas. According to the Annual Report (2023) which is published by the Ministry of Land, Registration Act of 1908 and the Land Survey Act of 1875 are outdated, as these laws do not support digital documentation or authentication. If these laws are not amended, digital records may not be fully valid in court.
Bangladesh Law Commission recommended in its policy brief (November 2023) that, electronic khatians and e-signatures shall be officially recognized (Law Commission, 2023).Technical issues are another significant challenge. According to DLRS pilot update of (March 2024), problems such as overlapping dag numbers, mismatch of mouza boundaries, and outdated mapping data in many areas arose. Then GPS-based resurvey programs have started in Tangail, Cumilla, and Rangpur. But still, experts warn that, without better institutional support, it would take years to resurvey Bangladesh's 87,000 mouzas completely.
Corruption plays role of a huge barrier. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) reported in its Annual Report 2022 that, many land-related cases involve fake documents and altered khatians. Though digitization may decrease such risks, it still needs backing from strong cyber security measures. The Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) has suggested that the use of blockchain for record verification can ensure secure ownership trails (BCC Blockchain Initiative, 2023).The government have made access of digital services easier for citizens. The Land Service Portal and Land Helpline (16122) allow citizens to file complaints and check ownership of land by the phone. According to the Land Helpline Report (December 2023), over 80,000 complaints were filed online and most of them were solved within weeks. This is a milestone in our land administration. But as there is low digital literacy, especially among older or rural landowners, full participation is hindered.
Firstly, the government may amend the outdated laws like the
Registration Act 1908, Evidence Act 1872 and Survey Act to acknowledge
electronic records as legally valid. Secondly, the government may create
an unified digital system for all land-related agencies that will share
a national cadastral database. Thirdly, the government may train local
officers, surveyors, and record-keepers on digital tools to ensure data
accuracy. Lastly, government may conduct awareness programs to improve
digital literacy in rural areas of Bangladesh.
Beyond the issues of governance, establishing a well-functioning digital land system can boost our economic and social stability. Report shows, nearly 80% of civil cases in Bangladesh's lower courts are on land related disputes. To reduce this backlog and increase investor confidence in real estate, clear and accessible digital land records are needed. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its Country Strategy 2021-2025, transparent land record systems are important for industrial zoning and sustainable rural development in Bangladesh.
The land management system of Bangladesh needs some essential reforms.
Firstly, the government may amend the outdated laws like the Registration Act 1908, Evidence Act 1872 and Survey Act to acknowledge electronic records as legally valid. Secondly, the government may create an unified digital system for all land-related agencies that will share a national cadastral database. Thirdly, the government may train local officers, surveyors, and record-keepers on digital tools to ensure data accuracy. Lastly, government may conduct awareness programs to improve digital literacy in rural areas of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is approaching towards significant transformation in land administration. The ongoing digital initiatives have become a foundation for transparent and efficient land administration. But still this sector needs legal reforms, institutional collaboration, and a strong technical foundation is a must, otherwise old problems will emerge in new forms. The Government should ensure a balanced approach that combines law and technology. This will mark Bangladesh as a regional leader in land management.
The writer is an LLB student, Bangladesh University of Professionals
