Blocking the way to sell a land twice! Document registration system is being digitized

Dhaka Times Desk There is no end to the complaints about land acquisition across the country. There are not few instances of the same land being sold to two or more persons. That long-standing problem is going to be solved now. The current government has taken a program to modernize and digitize the document registration system.

It is known that under this program, 5 sub-registry offices of three districts are being digitized this year. If this program is successful, the sub-registry offices across the country will be brought under it in May next year. For this, the initial cost has been estimated at 20 crores. This amount will be spent from the IGR fund (registration office's own fund).

Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed told reporters that the registration system is being digitized. As a result, a copy of the registry document will be available on the same day as the land registry and a copy will be in the database. A pilot program is currently being undertaken in this regard. The minister also said that if the first phase of the program is successful, the digital system will be introduced in the registry offices of the entire country. He said, 21 institutions have expressed their interest for this program. Out of these 7 institutions have been scrutinized and called for tender.

It is known that initially 5 sub-registry offices and three record rooms have been taken as a pilot project to modernize and digitize the document registration system. These are Uttara, Tejgaon, Comilla Sadar, Jessore Sadar and Dhaka Sadar Sub-Registry Offices of Dhaka. A National Steering Committee has been formed under the leadership of Law Minister Barrister Shafiq Ahmed for this program. Deputy Secretary of Law Ministry Arup Kumar Goswami has been made the member secretary of this committee. Program implementation committee has been formed under this steering committee. Joint Secretary (Opinion) of the Ministry of Law has been made the head of this 11-member committee.

Expression of interest is sought from interested organizations for the implementation of this program. 21 institutions expressed interest in this regard. After the scrutiny, the steering committee has finalized 7 institutions and invited proposals from them. That is, these institutions can submit tenders. They can send proposals for program implementation including financial proposals. The process of sending request for proposal to these seven institutions is going on. It is expected that 5 sub-registry offices and 3 record rooms will come under the scope of document registration and modernization in August.

Arup Kumar Goswami, member secretary of the steering committee, said that the amount of money required for this project will be understood only after receiving the tenders of 7 institutions. However, it is hoped that this program can be implemented within the stipulated time frame. It is known that 20 crore rupees have been allocated for the implementation of this program at the initial stage. This money belongs to the IGR fund. The IGR office has already released this amount of Rs. This money will be spent on modernizing 5 sub-registry offices and 3 record rooms. If this program is implemented, the sub-registry offices across the country will come under it in May next year. If this program is implemented, the copy of the registry document will be available on the same day and one copy will remain in the challan book.

It is to be noted that the registry office is running the system of the previous period, so there is widespread corruption. Moreover, there are precedents of selling one land 2/3 times. The victims feel that once this digital system is introduced, those problems will no longer exist.