The land minister Narayon Chandra Chanda has directed to ensure that there is no delay in handing over the compensation cheque to the land owner affected by land acquisition. The land minister directed the divisional commissioners to ensure the quick handing over of compensation cheques to the bona fide victims after the approval of the deputy commissioners.
Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda said this while addressing the divisional commissioner coordination meeting as the chief guest at the conference room of the Ministry of Land at the Secretariat today, Thursday. Land Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman chaired the meeting. Among others, the Chairman of the Land Appeal Board AKM Shamimul Haque, Chairman of the Land Reform Board Md. Abdus Sabur Mondal, Director General of Land Record and Survey Department Anis Mahmud, Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Land, All divisional commissioners, and various level officials Ministry of Land were present in the meeting.
The land minister said the acquisition process is an urgent issue for the greater interest of the country, including socio-economic and industrial development. Even if there is heartache, the people are willing to give their land for the development of the country. However, many people lost their centuries-old ancestral land, many lost the graves of their ancestors and many lost agricultural land. In such a situation, the delay in receiving the compensation cheque is not only a financial loss for the victims but also a kind of psychological trauma.
Terming the people involved in irregularities and corruption in the management of the acquisition as enemies of the society, the minister said they are obstructing the normal development work of the country implemented under the leadership of the Prime Minister as well as embarrassing the government. The land minister expressed his firm determination to build a sustainable resistance system against those who harass the bonafide land owners affected by the acquisition.
The minister said initiatives have already been taken to digitize the process of cheque handover of land acquisition. In order to prevent corruption in land acquisition and reduce the sufferings of the owners of the acquired land, measures are being taken to pay compensation for land acquisition through the iBAS++ system.
Narayon Chandra Chanda said that in the last survey recruitment exam, many posts had to be kept vacant even though there were qualified candidates. Because of the obligation of the percentage of distribution of district quota or district-wise posts in the posts of survey-related grades, it was not possible to appoint permanent residents of another district in the applicable posts for other districts. This situation can be avoided if more survey institutes are set up in other parts of the country, the minister said. The minister asked the concerned to take steps to set up more survey institutes if necessary.
In a visual presentation displayed at the conference, it is seen that Manikganj, Narsingdi, Magura, Khulna, and Netrokona districts are at the forefront of Khatian delivery in the last month. The land secretary hoped that other districts would also progress faster. Land-related issues including manpower, Sairat Mahal, land management system, land office, Donated and Debutter Property, etc. were discussed in the coordination meeting.