Govt to update land record laws to curb harassment

The government will take an initiative to update laws relating to land records and land survey system in order to curb harassment of the people, Land Adviser Mainul Hosein said yesterday.
The pressure on the land is increasing because of growing population in the country, he said at the annual conference of settlement officials of the Department of Land Records and Survey.
The adviser attended the conference as the chief guest and Secretary of the land ministry Md Mosleh Uddin was present as special guest. Director General of Land Records and Survey Mahfuzur Rahman chaired the function.
Mainul Hosein said there are reports that people who go to land records and registration offices to get their work done are being harassed. Besides, the number of land-related criminal and civil cases is increasing, as the land record and survey system is not modern and time-befitting, he added.
He urged the settlement officials to work with honesty and sincerity and provide better service to the people to dispel bad impression of the land records and survey department.
The adviser also stressed the need to make people aware of the activities of the land record and survey department, which would help reduce forgery in land records. The media can also play a vital role in raising awareness about land records and survey, he added.
Measures are under process to set up permanent survey offices at thana and upazila levels, the adviser said, adding that this would benefit people and ensure transparency and accountability in land survey and registration process.