Technology and Torrens: How to support Bangladesh Landowners' rights

This paper examines current land titling and administration processes in a selected developing country, Bangladesh, in order to determine the reliability and effectiveness of those processes in supporting and protecting individual landowners, and in guaranteeing title. In doing so, it identifies several governance issues flowing from the current decentralised registry and record of rights systems, and limited use of technology; which adversely impacts upon individual landowners’ title and rights, and users’ confidence, in those processes. This research supports both the need for a single centralised land management system; and the need for greater access to easy-to-use technology by all landowners, and potential landowners, irrespective of their social class. The paper concludes by identifying how the adoption of a Torrens style system, combined with increased technology adoption and use, will both assist in protecting individuals’ title and other rights, and result in a more efficient and rigorous Bangladesh land administration system. The research adds to the limited literature regarding Bangladesh