10 days turn into interminable wait for some RS khatiyan applicants

Farhana Nasrin applied for a copy of an RS (Revisional Survey) khatiyan through the government's online portal on May 8 last year in hope of getting a hassle-free service.

But her hope faded as it turned into a never-ending wait.

"I was happy that I wouldn't have to go to the local land office. I had praised the government initiative also. But when one month passed, I realised that there was no hope of getting it," she said.

Nasrin applied for the khatiyan to be sent home through courier service.

An applicant is supposed to get a khatiyan and mouza map in 10 days after submitting the application. In the applicant's dashboard at eporcha.gov.bd, it is seen that Nasrin was supposed to get her khatiyan on May 18, 2022 but her application was still on the waiting list.

An applicant has to pay Tk 50 for a certified khatiyan and another Tk 40 to receive it through courier service. Farhana paid the Tk 90 to get the khatiyan, also known as porcha, for her land in Narayanganj district.

"I contacted their helpline. They advised me to go to the local office for a solution. I asked them if I have to go to the local office then what is the point of an online application? They couldn't answer. I asked for a refund but they told me it is not possible," she said.

According to the land ministry, Dhaka is the lowest service providing district in Dhaka Division, which is followed by Narayanganj.

According to the data, a total of 20,946 applications for khatiyan and 157 for mouza maps were filed with the Narayanganj deputy commissioner's office. They provided services to less than 1,100 applicants.

Surprisingly, 260 applicants got online services from Dhaka's deputy commissioner's office where a total of 1,36,580 applications were filed for khatiyan and mouza map, according to the land ministry's data till Monday.

Habibur Rahman, a resident of Dhaka, filed three separate applications for khatiyans on March 6. The delivery date was March 16. But his applications are still shown under process.

Another service seeker Hasan Shariar said he directly went to the DC office to avoid any hassle but was told to apply online. "I applied online but I am yet to receive it. In the last three weeks [of March] I visited them several times and heard the same reply: come next week," he said.

Monjurul Hafiz, deputy commissioner of Narayanganj, said he is yet to check the land ministry report. "Once I go through it, I'll be able to tell you about it," he said.

Dhaka's DC Mohammad Mominur Rahman could not be reached for comment over phone.

Contacted, Jahid Hossain Panir, joint secretary, Digitization, Knowledge Management and Performance (DKMP) section of land ministry, said the service providing rate is poor due to lack of training and indifference of officers.

He declined to comment further and suggested to talk to land ministry's Secretary Mustafizur Rahman.

This correspondent could not reach Mustafizur Rahman over the phone and sent him a text message, but there was no response.