Digitisation of land admin under process: Minister

The land ministry has started implementing a 12-point programme to lease out 'khas' land to landless people, to make cluster villages and tea gardens, digitise land management and evict illegal encroachers.
Besides, work is going on to formulate a policy on management of markets and growth centres, tea gardens and sand, salt and shrimp fields.
The land ministry has decided to continue the drive to demolish illegal structures on the rivers of Buriganga, Shitalakkhya, Turag and Balu.
Talking to BSS, Land Minister Rezaul Karim Hira said the government is pledge-bound to free lands from illegal occupation and ensure its proper use. The drive will continue until all lands are freed from the encroachers, he added.
The minister said the government has taken initiatives to reorganise the activities of the land ministry.
He said land would be allocated for making new tea gardens to meet the growing demand of tea and increase its export.
The land minister said the government leased out more than 3,000 acres of land among 8,102 landless families free of cost in six months from January to June this year.
Besides, rehabilitation of 10,650 landless and homeless families under a Tk 189.29 crore project is going on.
Rehabilitation of 1,800 homeless families has started in Noakhali, Luxmipur and Chittagong. Work on making zoning maps for the coastal districts is going on. This map will help implement development projects easily.
He said the process is underway to digitise the land administration and management.