Land is the foundation of a country’s economy, agriculture, settlement, and industry, so land management and services are directly linked to the lives of ordinary people, according to ASM Saleh Ahmed, senior secretary at the land ministry.
The senior secretary made the remark while addressing the closing ceremony of the 45th and 46th Basic Land Management Courses for newly appointed Assistant Commissioners (Land) at Land Administration Training Centre (LATC) in Dhaka on Thursday.
He emphasised that the role of assistant commissioners (land) is crucial to ensuring effective and transparent land management.
“To uphold the image of the administration, officials must work with honesty and integrity. People should be able to say that assistant commissioners (land) neither take bribes nor harass anyone. Providing services on time with a public service mindset must be the top priority. Land offices must be established as a symbol of people’s trust in resolving land-related issues,” the secretary said.
A total of 100 officers participated in the five-week training programme. The event began with trainees sharing their experiences.
Saleh Ahmed said, “Land issues often come with a lot of complaints – these must be addressed through law and justice. Officials must present themselves as people-friendly leaders in their workplaces and actively engage in social activities. Specialised knowledge is essential for administrative cadre officers. Many Assistant Commissioners (Land) have earned public trust through dedicated service, and others should follow their example. Illegal practices must be avoided at all costs, and justice must be upheld in society, even in the face of global challenges.”
He also highlighted that although 100% of land services have been digitized, many citizens are still not accustomed to using online platforms.
“Officials must take responsibility to guide and support the public and work courageously for citizens’ convenience,” he added.
The training course covered crucial responsibilities of assistant commissioners (land), including land record corrections through mutation, record updates, management of abandoned and khas properties, revenue collection, management of civil cases, and implementation of land acquisition cases. The program also updated officers on relevant laws, regulations, manuals, circulars, and government directives.
Special guests at the event included AJM Salahuddin Nagari, chairman (secretary) of the Land Reform Board, Major Syedur Rahman, Director General (Grade-1) of the Directorate of Land Records and Surveys, and Md Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, additional secretary (Development) of the ministry of land.
The welcome speech was delivered by Sabur Khan, deputy director (Finance and Administration) of LATC. The ceremony was chaired by Rumana Rahman Shampa, acting director of LATC.
In the concluding session, the senior secretary handed over crests and certificates to the top performers of the training programme.
