In cooperation with the Research and Evaluation Division of BRAC, Copenhagen Consensus Center organized roundtable discussions with an aim to figure out smarter solutions to the most problematic issues facing Bangladesh.

1. Land
Administration
Research Ideas
Dhaka
May 28, 2015

2. Bangladesh Priorities
WORKING WITH 30-50 economists including Nobel Laureates, 100+
sector experts engaging major development organizations, NGOs,
government, businesses, youths, rural and urban Bangladeshis to
identify, analyze and prioritize interventions that will deliver greater
benefit per taka spent, helping move Bangladesh towards Vision 2021
and a more prosperous long term future.

3. In cooperation with the Research
and Evaluation Division of BRAC,
Copenhagen Consensus Center
organized roundtable discussions
with an aim to figure out smarter
solutions to the most problematic
issues facing Bangladesh.
These roundtables are
one of several sources
for research ideas.
Sourcing ideas and solutions
Smarter solutions for Bangladesh
Complete set of papers
on 30-50 solutions
PRIORITIZATION
Government NGOs
Academia Pvt sector
Think tanks
Development
organizations
Eminent Panel
Assessment
Government and
donor seminars
Rural polls
Newspaper polls
among readers
Youth forums
across the country
Private sector
meetings
Social, economic and
environmental benefit-cost
research by top Bangladeshi,
and international economists
Extensive peer review by sector
experts and academics
100+ ideas on
policies & investments
20162015 Continuous
engagement with
the public via
electronic, print
and social media
Working with
civil society,
government and
sector experts
Widely
advocating
results of
prioritization
exercises
OUTREACH

4. Research Ideas

5. Land Administration;
(1 of 5)
• End use of agricultural land for non-agricultural
purpose.
• Digitize land registration process.
• Provide an accurate estimation of Khas land for
distribution to the landless.
• Increase number of judges for dealing with land related
litigations.
• Establish a separate court for mitigating land disputes.
• Introduce a “land to men” system imposing a land
ownership ceiling.
• Redistribution of land through leasing on usage basis.
• Ensure transparency in land pricing.

6. Land Administration;
(2 of 5)
• Estimate intensity of land dispute through BBS surveys
and census questionnaires.
• Establish digitized, integrated land record collection
system.
• Provide real estate registration services through portals,
kiosks and mobile services.
• Make Department of Land Records and Surveys (DLRS)
the focal point to help the AC (Land) Office, the
Settlement Office and Sub-Registrar update their
databases - taxes, documentation and statistical
information, as well as khatian.
• Develop a comprehensive Land Information System
(LIS) as geodetic framework and cadastral system.

7. Land Administration;
(3 of 5)
• Use of Land information system for recording and
maintaining the original volume of land records.
• Start land information work during the 7FYP period
[adoption will take time].
• Introduce a national level alternative dispute resolution
(ADR) mechanism for land disputes.
• Solve disputes during land survey and recording with
the help of NGO, CSO and local government bodies such
as UP representatives.
• Use village courts to settle disputes related to boundary.
• Establish a high-level committee to analyze land
related disputes and provide proper recommendations
on ADR.

8. Land Administration;
(4 of 5)
• Complete National Land Zoning by 2015.
• Revision of the national Land Policy providing guiding
principles on sectoral and cross-sectoral land use and
environmental management.
• Rationalize the existing institutional framework for
recording or registration of property rights.
• Ensure efficacy of Land Survey Tribunals established in
2004.
• Streamlining land transaction fees.
• Impose capital gain tax on land transactions [reduce
windfall capital gains].

9. Land Administration;
(5 of 5)
• Prioritize forest land survey by DLRS.
• Tie in land ownership with National ID database.
• Undertake efforts to gradually transform the work
culture - from the present manual system to an ICT
based management context.
• Set up lower courts in all Upazilas of Bangladesh.
• Ensure no vacancies within Upazila AC Land positions.

10. Full List of Attendees and
Interviewees
Dr. Ashikur Rahman, Senior Economist, PRI.
Sultan M Zakaria, BIGD.
Abdul Bayes, Director, RED.
Dr. Nurul Islam Nazem, Professor, Dhaka University.
Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman, Center for
Policy Dialogue.
Dr. Ashikur Rahman, Senior Economist, PRI.
Mr. Sultan M Zakaria, BIGD.
Professor Abdul Bayes, Director, RED.
Dr. Nurul Islam Nazem, Professor, Dhaka University.
Dr. Md. Abdul Mannan, Director, Access to
Information (a2i).
Barrister Manzoor Hasan, Executive Director, SAILS.
Dr. Jonathan Rose, Research Director, SAILS.
Mr. KAM Morshed, ACD, UNDP.
Mr. Palash Kanti, Das, ACD, UNDP.