Bangladesh land ministry has won this year's World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) award for developing the Digital Land Tax System.
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Houlin Zhao handed over the WSIS trophy to Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury at an event on Tuesday, said a press release of the ministry on Wednesday.
The programme was organized by different United Nations agencies, including ITU at the Popov Conference Hall of ITU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, while talking to ministry officials after the event, said that it was a great honour and privilege for the ministry of land of Bangladesh and this recognition would inspire the ministry officials to work better.
The Digital Land Tax System of the ministry of land wins the prize as the best project/initiative in the category namely ICT Applications: Benefits in all Aspects of Life-E-government. WSIS prizes are given in 18 categories.
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury said, “The journey to today's position was not so easy. At one time the whole land service system of Bangladesh was chaotic. When the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in 2009, a plan was taken to digitalize land services for the first time to overcome this situation. Today we have become part of the digital system by overcoming various challenges.”
On behalf of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Land, the Minister thanked the WSIS Forum. "We have a greater responsibility to do more for the welfare of the people and the country," he said.
He went on to say, "Today we have become part of the digital system after overcoming various challenges. And winning the WSIS prize has given us rather more responsibilities on our shoulders to do more and more for the people and the country."
Mostafizur Rahman, Secretary of Bangladesh land ministry, leaders from around the world, ministers, senior government officials, civil society representatives, researchers, representatives of international and regional organizations, and the United Nations were present at the event.