Land Ministry orders biometric attendance nationwide

The Ministry of Land has directed the installation of biometric digital attendance devices at all upazila and union land offices across the country to make grassroots-level land services more efficient, transparent and accountable.

The directive was issued through a circular by the ministry’s Field Administration-2 on September 14, according to an office order issued on Wednesday.

The circular asked all deputy commissioners (DCs) to install biometric attendance devices at every upazila and union land office in their respective districts and ensure that officials and employees use them regularly.

It said regular and timely attendance of officials and employees involved in land service delivery was essential for ensuring smooth and timely services to the public.

The ministry said the government had undertaken various initiatives, including e-governance, to ensure transparency and accountability and create a conducive working environment in government offices.

As part of those initiatives, steps had been taken to make grassroots-level land administration more dynamic and people-friendly, it added.

The authorities concerned have also been instructed to monitor whether officials and employees are regularly using the installed biometric devices.

The circular was primarily addressed to all DCs. Copies were also sent to divisional commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs), assistant commissioners (land), concerned officials of the Ministry of Land and system analysts, among others.

The initiative is expected to strengthen attendance discipline, technology-based monitoring and accountability in grassroots-level land administration and facilitate land service delivery to the public.