Govt moves to digitise all land deeds

The government has moved to preserve all registered land deeds in a digital system as part of a major initiative to curb land-related fraud and forgery.

A senior official at the Ministry of Land (MoL) said the process has begun to eliminate fake ownership claims by uploading and preserving all registered land documents on the government's designated website.

"The integration of registered land deeds into an online system will be completed in phases," the official said, adding that it would help resolve long-standing disputes and reduce the risk of fraudulent transactions.

Once implemented, landowners will be able to check their registered deeds online using their mobile phones, while Bangladeshi expatriates abroad will also be able to verify ownership remotely.

The system will further allow users to download certified copies of land deeds directly from the government website.

Officials noted that the initiative will also minimise the risk of deprivation arising from heirship disputes or ownership confusion.

This is the first time in the country's 117-year history that all registered land deeds are being brought online, MoL sources said.

The move will cover all documents recorded since the enactment of the Registration Act of 1908, which will gradually be integrated into the central digital database.

The land ministry advised those unable to find their registered deeds online to visit the relevant district registrar's office and submit the original or certified copy for inclusion in the digital system.

Those who still cannot access their records are urged to wait patiently as the process continues. Once the online integration is complete, landowners will be notified through official government announcements.

Many land deeds were destroyed or partially damaged during the Partition of India in 1947 and the Liberation War in 1971, causing immense hardship for genuine landowners.

Officials said such difficulties will end once the digital preservation system is fully in place, ensuring secure and verifiable ownership for all.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com