Night guards would be appointed at union and municipal land offices across the country to ensure the security of valuable documents stored in the land offices, Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda said on Friday.

The minister said this while addressing a reception accorded to him by the Bangladesh Land Officers' Welfare Association at the council hall of the Institute of Diploma Engineers (IDEB) at Kakrail in the capital.

Reiterating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's firm determination to implement corruption-free smart land management as part of the master plan to build Bangabandhu's smart Sonar Bangla, the land minister also said that, every citizen of the country is involved with land, as well as the overall economy of the country is also involved. He stressed the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy against corruption in the land sector and emphasized the need to ensure that no uninvited third parties or brokers are present in land offices.

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The Minister urged Union Land Assistant Officers (ULAOs) and Union Land Sub-Assistant Officers (ULSAOs) from across the country to provide transparent and efficient land services, moving away from past inefficiencies. He called on them to serve as the frontline soldiers in establishing smart land management and contributing to the realization of Bangabandhu's vision of Sonar Bangla.

Addressing the newly appointed Union Land Sub-Assistant Officer, the land minister said: "The nation has special expectations from you. As civil service exam passers, you symbolize merit in public service. I trust that you will work honestly, valuing the trust of the country and its people, and innovate to provide people-friendly land services."

 Mohiuddin Ahmed, a lawmaker from Munshiganj-1 constituency, was present as a special guest.

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Among others, President of the Central Executive Committee of Bangladesh Land Officers' Welfare Association Md. Motahar Hossain Khan, Executive President Md. Abul Hossain, and Secretary General Md. Asaduzzaman were present. Besides, Union Land Assistant Officers and Union Land Sub-Assistant Officers from all over the country were also present.

There are 3,468 union and municipal land offices across the country.