PM stresses people-friendly land management to build a just and modern state

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today emphasized that transparent, accountable, and people-friendly land management is indispensable for constructing a just and modern state system. He underscored that delivering public services is a fundamental constitutional responsibility of the government rather than an act of charity toward citizens.

The Premier made these remarks after inaugurating a three-day nationwide "Land Service Fair-2026" at the Bhumi Bhaban in the capital's Tejgaon area this morning.

Modernization to eliminate corruption and middleman influence

Highlighting the primary objective of his administration, the Prime Minister stated that the government is fully committed to establishing a corruption-free, harassment-free, and technology-driven land administration. This shift, he noted, will significantly accelerate the country's sustainable development goals.

"Ensuring online services in land management will drastically reduce public suffering. Simultaneously, the historic, disruptive influence of middlemen (brokers) in land offices regarding land disputes will be effectively neutralized," the Prime Minister said.

He observed that as the national population increases, the per capita availability of land shrinks, driving property values up and leading to a surge in family disputes, lawsuits, and administrative complexities. To address this reality, the Ministry of Land is leveraging advanced technology-based surveys to prepare flawless land records, migrating almost all essential administrative services to digital platforms.

Fulfilling election manifestos and the 31-point outline

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who also chairs the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), pointed out that the nationwide land fair marks the fulfillment of a key electoral pledge. The initiative was prominent both in the party’s historical 31-point state reform outline and its latest election manifesto.

He reiterated that after enduring more than one and a half decades of fascist authoritarianism and systemic exploitation, citizens rightfully expect to see their basic democratic rights reflected in state operations. Consequently, the incumbent government has prioritized the phased implementation of its manifesto promises and the "July Charter" right from its first week in office.

Addressing the backlog of cases through ADR and village courts

Expressing grave concern over judicial congestion, the Prime Minister revealed that more than 47 lakh civil and criminal cases are currently pending in courts across Bangladesh, with land-related title disputes making up the vast majority.

To alleviate this crisis, the Premier urged the widespread adoption of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms—such as conciliation, mediation, and arbitration—alongside utilizing village courts. Quoting physicist Albert Einstein, who noted that "Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding," the Prime Minister stressed that bypassing conventional litigation through ADR would prevent long-term familial hostility and expedite dispute resolution.

Dignitaries present at the inaugural ceremony

The inaugural ceremony of the Land Service Fair-2026 was presided over by Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu. State Minister for Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin and Land Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed also addressed the gathering.

The high-profile state event was attended by senior cabinet members and government officials, including:

• Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister: Dr. Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain

• Agriculture Minister: Mohammed Aminur Rashid

• Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister: Md. Asaduzzaman

• Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister: Faqir Mahbub Anam

• Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister: Afroza Khanam (Rita)

• State Minister for Civil Aviation, Tourism and Railways: Habibur Rashid

The three-day nationwide fair across all districts and upazilas features real-time digital facilities, allowing citizens to file e-mutation applications, pay online land development taxes, correct administrative errors, collect certified khatians (records of rights), and lodge formal land-related complaints.