land Service Week: 8 officials to be awarded

Eight officers have been selected as best assistant commissioners (AC land) of the country for their performance in providing service to people.

Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury will confer recognition crests and certificates to the ACs today during the inaugural ceremony of Land Service Week 2022.

Talking to The Daily Star, Pradip Kumar Das, additional secretary of the land ministry, said out of 512 ACs, eight have been selected from eight divisions. "The land ministry has introduced the award to encourage assistant commissioners to provide the best services to people," said Pradip.

The awardees are Lovely Yasmin, AC land of Faridpur Sadar; KM Abu Nowshad of Titas, Cumilla; Kawsar Habib of Pabna Sadar; Abdul Hai Siddiqui of Batiaghata, Khulna; Abdul Kaium of Dasmina, Patuakhali; Uttam Kumar Das of Nabiganj, Habiganj; Kausar Ahammed of Nokla, Sherpur; and Uzzal Hossen of Kurigram.

Besides, Rangpur zonal settlement officer Azmal Hossain and charge officers of Dhaka Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan and Mamun-or-Rashid will be awarded.

"I began my career only four years ago... To me, it's a big achievement," said Lovely Yasmin. Lovely ensured 100 percent land tax collection through the internet and took measures to upload all "khatians" of her area to the digital platform. "I've recovered about 20-30 acres of khas land."

Uzzal said he took measures to free his office from brokers. Records show, that during his tenure, he dealt with 175 cases out of 200 in seven months. Till May 22, Uzzal collected 95 percent of the due land tax. He recovered 90-acre khas land.

LAND SERVICE WEEK

With the theme "Taking Digital Land Service Without Going to Land Office", the ministry is observing the land week. Booths will be set up in every district, upazila and union, where people will be given services on a priority basis.