The government has said land-related services in all upazilas will be digitised by 2020.

It has already taken an initiative to keep existing khatiyans (land records) of 55 districts in a digital system to facilitate land survey and ease record keeping.

Preparations for making digital maps and khatiyans in 53 moujas of Dhaka and Narsingdi districts were also underway, said Finance Minister AMA Muhith during his budget speech yesterday.

He said a digital land management system has been in place in 45 upazilas of seven districts. Efforts were also taken to set up land information services centres in 20 upazilas.

The minister hoped that three of the service centres would be established by this September.

 Besides, land ownership certificate in lieu of existing khatian is being introduced in three upazilas. Preparations for creating a database of khash pukurs and jalmahals have started too.

The minister said, the government was continuing its efforts to modernise all land-related services under multiple projects.

A report containing digital zoning maps of 152 upazilas was already prepared under a programme. In the second phase, the programme has been extended to 301 more upazilas.

Digital land zoning programme will be extended to hilly districts very soon, said Muhith.

The government was also considering establishing a new land management system through coordinated use of maps received from satellite and existing land records. 

Under the new scheme, each family will receive a land certificate stating the class of land including its position and ownership rights; changes to any position or rights will be given immediate effect under specific guidelines, the minister added.