More than eight crore land records (khatian) have been incorporated into Bangladesh's digital database, marking significant progress in the government's efforts to modernise land administration and make land-related services more accessible, transparent and efficient.
According to the latest information from the Ministry of Land's Digital Record Room, the growing database is expected to reduce the need for repeated visits to land offices, save time and money, and enable citizens to access land ownership records more conveniently.
Parvez Hasan, project director of the ministry's digitisation project, told BSS that data entry initiatives were underway to bring all land records under a government-managed online system.
With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), pilot activities have already been completed in 11 upazilas, he said.
A procurement proposal is expected to be sent to the Cabinet Division to expand the initiative nationwide. Field-level implementation can begin after approval and completion of the subsequent tender process.
Hasan said making all land records (khatian) available online could significantly reduce everyday disputes over land by allowing citizens to retrieve their records without having to visit multiple government offices.
The digital database includes different categories of land records, including those prepared under CS, SA, RS and BS surveys, as well as records generated and updated through the electronic mutation system.
Ministry officials said the online survey records database currently contains about 5.12 crore to 5.13 crore records. Around 5.12 crore land records were made publicly accessible online in February 2022. The number has subsequently increased with the expansion of e-mutation and other digital land services.
The e-mutation system is now operational in 516 upazila and circle land offices and 3,467 union land offices across the country. Nearly 500,000 mutation cases are being processed online every month, according to the ministry officials.
Mutation is the administrative process of updating government land records following a change of ownership through purchase, inheritance, donation or other legally recognised means.
The digital system allows citizens to submit applications, verify documents, monitor case progress and receive decisions more conveniently.
Online land development tax collection and e-Porcha services have also contributed to expanding digital land administration and government revenue collection.
About 5.7 crore land holdings have been transferred from manual records to the digital system, while around 1.1 crore online receipts have been issued.
Between July 2024 and May 2025, the e-Porcha service generated about Taka 45 crore in government revenue, according to official data.
The availability of digital records is particularly important for prospective land buyers, who can use the system to check plot numbers, recorded ownership and land area before completing transactions.
It also makes it easier for people to locate inherited property records, compare old deeds with official land records and prepare mutation applications.
Expatriate Bangladeshis can also search for their land records from abroad, reducing their dependence on relatives at home for preliminary verification.
The officials said digital record management can improve administrative transparency by reducing delays in retrieving documents and the risk of losing paper records. Digitally stored application, payment and processing information also make it easier to monitor service delivery.
However, they emphasise that reliable websites and servers, data security, user-friendly platforms and effective complaint-handling mechanisms are essential to ensure that citizens receive the full benefits.
Alongside digitalisation, the government is planning infrastructure development, including the construction of 1,330 union land offices and 150 integrated upazila land complexes. Development project proposals are being prepared for the initiatives.
The government is also considering the use of drones for land surveys to reduce survey time and improve data accuracy. Plans include expanding access to land-related information through national identity cards.
Acting Land Secretary Md Emdadul Hoq Chowdhury told BSS that the government was working to make land services simpler, more transparent and citizen-friendly through the expansion of digital initiatives.
"If all land records can gradually be brought online, citizens will be able to collect their land records and verify necessary information from home. This will save time and money, reduce visits to land offices and improve transparency in the preservation and management of land records," he said.
He added that ensuring data accuracy, regular updates, information security and easy access to services remained key priorities.
In addition to technology-based services, the government would also focus on preserving and verifying old records, correcting inaccurate information and establishing effective mechanisms for resolving citizens' complaints, Chowdhury said.