Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land, ASM Saleh Ahmed, served as the chief guest at a stakeholder consultation workshop held at a city hotel. Photo: PID

DHAKA, April 15, 2026 (BSS) - Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land ASM Saleh Ahmed today said the government is committed to ensuring transparency in land acquisition process. 

He also emphasized that ensuring efficiency, accountability, and human sensitivity in the land acquisition process is a fundamental policy commitment of the government.

Saleh Ahmed made the remarks as the chief guest at a stakeholder consultation workshop on the modernization of land services and land management in Bangladesh, jointly organised by the Ministry of Land and the World Bank at a city hotel.

He noted that land acquisition procedures in many cases remain lengthy, complex and burdensome for citizens.

"Land is not merely an asset; it is deeply linked to people's livelihood, dignity, social security and emotions. Therefore, alongside efficiency, ensuring transparency, accountability and humanity in the process is a fundamental policy commitment," he said.

The senior secretary said the government is introducing a digital payment system to ensure that compensation reaches affected individuals quickly and without harassment. Under the system, payments will be transferred directly to beneficiaries' bank accounts, reducing delays and strengthening transparency.

He added that the government is shifting from an ad hoc approach to a structured digital framework for land acquisition. As part of this move, the draft of the 'Immovable Property Acquisition and Requisition Rules' has already been completed.

Speaking at the event, World Bank representative Kumar Tadi Mallah said Bangladesh has made notable progress in modernising land management.

"Although much work remains, the progress achieved so far deserves recognition," he said, adding that the initiative aims to ensure practical benefits for landowners, the government and investors alike.

He highlighted the importance of making the system accessible to marginalised groups, including the poor, less educated and women, so they can understand procedures, identify irregularities and safeguard their rights.

The workshop was chaired by Additional Secretary (Development) Md Emdadul Haque Chowdhury.

Among others, World Bank representatives Dongkyu Kwak and Md Akhtaruzzaman, as well as former Additional Secretary Tariq Hikmat, also spoke at the event.

A final draft report on industrial and production surveys in suburban and adjacent areas of Dhaka metropolitan was presented by World Bank representatives Yan F Zhang and Zhiyu Jerry Chen.

During the workshop, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for land acquisition was presented and feedback was collected from stakeholders. The SOP will be finalised based on their recommendations.

Participants expressed optimism that the SOP would make the acquisition process simpler, faster and more citizen-friendly, contributing to accelerated national development.

Officials from various ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, NGOs and media representatives attended the workshop.