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Senior Reporter / Thelegalvoice24 Media :
/Land Minister calls for properly monitoring land service activities at field level/
/Circular directs AC Lands not to discard entire mutation and to consider only those related to Misc. cases/
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury called upon the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to properly monitor the work of those engaged in land service at the field level.
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury made the call while addressing the deputy commissioners as the chief guest at a working session on the Ministry of Land at the ‘Deputy Commissioners Conference-2023′ held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Thursday. Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain, Land Secretary Md. Mustafizur Rahman PAA, and senior officials of the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Land, and its departments were present at the session.
At this time, the Land-Minister directed the District Commissioners to encourage good work and reward it in applicable cases, to correct mistakes, provide training if necessary, and to take initiatives to impose appropriate punishment for unwanted and unjust acts committed deliberately and successively. Later, in a press briefing, the Land-Minister informed reporters that the land officers’ refresher training, which had been halted due to the Covid-19 situation, would be resumed soon.
It is to be noted that the Ministry of Land has established a Dashboard for close monitoring of land services and an Institutional Memory System to preserve the experiences of all those concerned with land, launched a messaging app Barta for internal communication within the land ministry, and introduced land services awards in recognition of providing good service to land services receivers. Besides, the Ministry of Land is regularly issuing necessary circulars, notifications, and office orders giving directions to those responsible for land services, if applicable.
On January 19, the Ministry of Land issued a circular to ensure that land service receivers do not face harassment with Miscellaneous Cases. This circular aims to provide harassment-free land service to the people. The circular directs the Assistant Commissioners (Lands) not to discard the entire mutation or other mutation produced from the plot, instead to consider only the portion that relates to miscellaneous cases. Besides, the Assistant Commissioners (Land) have also been directed to decide the issue only after conducting the Limitation hearing in the Review Cases.
It is to be noted that most (over two-thirds) of the proposals related to the Ministry of Land in the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference 2023 are ongoing or initiatives have already been taken to take action. These proposals are related to the Database of gazetted vested properties under the ‘Ka’ list and Khas (Government-owned) land, Protection of agricultural land, Conservation of Khas land, LA Contingency, Return of vested property, Proper management of various cases related to government interest, Reform, and formulation of policies and regulations relating to the management of Sairat Mahal, and Innovation in land management.
In addition, in some instance, partial activities are ongoing due to legal complications in the proposal related to recruitment and the creation of new posts. For example, there is a prohibition on litigation regarding appointment to the post of Kanungo. Apart from this, initiatives have already been taken to recruit other posts such as Union Land Assistant Officer (formerly Tahsildar) and Surveyor. If other types of human resources are required and a formal proposal is received accordingly, necessary initiatives will be taken.
The Ministry of Land is emphasizing on establishing sustainable land management by introducing digital services as well as amending laws and regulations, and drafting new laws if applicable.
An initiative has been taken to collect revenue through Khas collection when it is not possible to make a lease settlement of sand quarries for reasonable reasons. The draft amendment to the relevant Balumhal and Soil Management Act has been approved through the policy decision by the Cabinet Division and will be sent to Parliament soon. The rules will be amended if the law is enacted. This will increase revenue, maintain government control over lease-free sand quarries, and make it easier to stop illegal sand mining. Note, Revenue is collected through Khas collection from lease-free Jalmahal (Waterbodies).
Besides, the Hat and Bazaar (establish and management) Bill, 2023 has been placed in the Parliament. This bill has been placed in the Jatiya Sangsad with a provision of a fine up to TK 5 lakhs or one year of imprisonment or both if anyone or a group of people illegally occupy Khas land of any hat and bazaar and construct any establishment.
In the pipeline of new or amended laws are the ‘Land Crime Prevention and Redress Act’, ‘Land Ownership and Uses Act’, ‘Land Development Taxes Act’, ‘The Acquisition and Requisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act’, ‘Land Reform Act’ and ‘Land Uses Rights Act’.
