staff reporter, Dhaka : The Land Minister, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, has announced that the Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS) will be implemented across the country through a joint effort with private sector organizations specializing in modern survey work. The government believes that conducting cadastral surveys jointly (land property surveys) is the most effective, efficient, and economically suitable approach in the public interest.

Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury made these remarks during a meeting immediately following the signing ceremony of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) for the fiscal year 2023-2024 with the Ministry of Land and its affiliated departments/agencies, under the government’s performance management system. The meeting took place on Sunday, June 25, 2026, in the conference room of the Ministry of Land. Land Secretary Md. Khalilur Rahman was present at this time..

The minister stated that the objective of initiating the Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS) in Patuakhali is to address minor errors before rolling out nationwide surveys using new technology. The Land Minister expressed hope that government officials from the Land Records and Survey Department, as well as those involved in BDS-related projects and private sector survey work, will strive to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.

Utilizing drones and other advanced technologies, BDS will expedite the survey process, reduce time requirements, and minimize opportunities for corruption. Following the preparation of the digital map, the drafting and issuance of the Record of Rights (ROR) will also be completed digitally.

While addressing the chief guest at the APA agreement signing ceremony earlier, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury urged land officers to prioritize continuous development in land services, taking into account citizen service. He called upon officials to work at the field level in alignment with the government’s development plan for the country. The Land Minister advised the current Heads of Departments/Agencies to adopt a ‘Top-Down’ approach and think ‘Out-of-the-Box’ if necessary to meet the APA targets.

The Land Secretary expressed a commitment to implementing the initiatives outlined in the annual performance agreement, ensuring efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

Senior officials of the Ministry including the heads of the departments/agencies under the Ministry of Land attended the signing ceremony of the APA agreement.

Chairman of the Land Appeal Board A K M Shamimul Huq Siddique, Chairman of Land Reforms Board Md Abu Bakr Siddique, Director General of Land Records and Survey Department Md. Abdul Barik, Director of Land Administration Training Center Md. Arif and Accounts Controller (Revenue) Md. Mashiur Rahman signed the APA agreement on behalf of their respective Ministries / Agencies. On the other hand, the land secretary signed on behalf of the land ministry.