A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Land and Payment Gateway Channel Service Providers Upay, Nagad and Bkash, and Banking Services Providers United Commercial Bank (UCB) to set up a system with the facility of online payment of all land-related fees.
Land Secretary Md. Mustafizur Rahman PAA and Land Reforms Board Chairman Md Mostafa Kamal were present at the time held at the conference room of the ministry on Monday.
The Land Reform Board under the Ministry of Land is implementing this programme, according to a statement.
Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Land Additional Secretary Pradip Kumar Das has signed the MoU on behalf of the land ministry, and UCB AMD Arif Quadri, Upay CEO Sydul H Khandaker, Nagad COO Ashish Chakraborty, and Bkash GM SM Belal Ahmed have signed the MOU on behalf of their respective companies.
In the statement, Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said at the event that the purpose of setting up a system to pay all the fees including land development tax, mutation fee, Records of Right (Khaitan) fee online is to bring land services to the doorsteps of the people.
The less the Human-to-Human touch, the less corruption there will be - he added.
The land minister also said that there are plans to set up Kiosks (booths) at various important places including shopping malls and stations across the country to provide a Record of Rights (ROR).
Land Secretary Md. Mustafizur Rahman PAA also spoke on the occasion.
The Land Reform Board chairman informed that about 50 million families would benefit from the signing of the MOU.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Land, UCB, Upay, Nagad, and Bkash attended the MOU ceremony among others.
sajibur@gmail.com