Govt puts priority on people-friendly land reforms: Minister

Staff Correspondent: Minister for Land Narayan Chandra Chanda, MP on Saturday said that the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is prioritizing sustainable, accountable and people-friendly land reforms.

“The land use is necessary in all areas of development, including socio-economic development, fair use of industrial and mineral resources, agriculture and food security, poverty alleviation and combating the impacts of climate change. In view if this, necessary initiatives have been taken to make land management smart and modern one,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the reception given to him and the installation of Bangladesh Management Surveyor’s Association (BMSA) held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB).

Presided over by BMSA central president Mohammad Shamiul Islam Shamim, the function was addressed, among others, by Mujibur Rahman, Joint Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, Md Sadequl Islam, Deputy Secretary of Land Ministry, Mobarak Hossain, Principal of Bangladesh Survey Institute, Cumilla, Mahmud Hossain, Principal of Rajshahi Survey Institute and Mainul Haque Chowdhury Dulal, Secretary General of IDESEB.

Miraj Hossain, General Secretary of BMSA placed different demands at the function moderated by its Joint Secretary General Md Ismail Hossain.

The demands include paying salary for the post of surveyor working in the Ministry of Land in the 11th grade as the pos is technical one, changing the designation of surveyor and equivalent posts to Sub-Assistant Engineer (Survey) as per government notification, promoting surveyors and equivalent posts to the posts of Kanungo, Deputy Assistant Settlement Officer, Assistant Survey Officer or Deputy Assistant Engineer based on speedy seniority and declaring the post of Surveyor as a technical one.

In response to the demands, the Land Minister promised to take necessary steps to implement the demands.

He said, no one in the Land Ministry will be deprived of fair rights.

“All demands will be implemented gradually. In this case, the cooperation of other ministries will be taken if necessary,” he added.

Highlighting the Prime Minister’s zero-tolerance policy against corruption, Minister Narayan Chandra Chanda said, “We have to be freed from the words used in the past regarding land issues. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken initiatives to ensure transparency and accountability in all areas.”

He sought the cooperation of all concerned including the surveyors in implementing that instruction.