Hon’ble Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda, M.P. assumed charge of the Ministry of Land of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on January 11, 2024. As the Minister of Land, he is spearheading the implementation of various land reform programs, including Smart Land Services undertaken by the Government of Bangladesh under the special initiative ‘Digital Bangladesh’ of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Narayon Chandra Chanda is the elected Member of Parliament from the Khulna-05 (Dumuria-Phultala) constituency. After taking charge as the land minister, he pledged to implement the initiatives taken in land management, identify the existing problems, and take effective measures to overcome them and eradicate corruption.
Notably, the land service digitalization program is more than a mere conversion to an electronic system while maintaining the traditional manual service delivery protocol and process unchanged. Rather, during the digitalization of land services, the protocol and process of providing services are changed simultaneously in applicable cases, and continuous improvement of the service is carried on after its launch. That is why the rules and regulations are regularly undergoing reform; initiatives are also being taken to amend the laws, and if applicable, to enact new acts in the field. Under the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, efforts are underway to execute the initial phase of this program by the year 2026, striving for the continuous and sustainable reform of the ‘centuries-old’ and asymmetric land service system.
Political Life and Public Service: Veteran politician Narayon Chandra Chanda has been engaged in the politics and public service of Bangladesh for the past five decades and has played an important role in the progress and prosperity of the nation.
He has been engaged in the politics of Bangladesh Awami League since 1967 with the conviction of involving himself in national life for the welfare of the masses of Bangladesh with establishing social justice. In his long political career, he served in various important positions of the party including organizing secretary of the Thana committee, general secretary of Thana Awami League from 1984 to 1995 through the council, and president of the central committee of Bangladesh Awami Matsyajibi League. Narayon Chandra Chanda, who has been the president of Dumuria Upazila Awami League since 1995, is a member of the Khulna district unit of Awami League.
Narayon Chandra Chanda was elected chairman of Vandarpara Union Parishad in Dumuria upazila of Khulna in 1973. The people of that Union Parishad elected him chairman for six consecutive terms recognizing and reposing confidence in his leadership and activities.
Narayon Chandra Chanda stepped into national politics by winning the Dumuria-Phultala constituency in the by-election of the seventh parliament in 2000. Later, in 2008 (9th Parliament), 2014 (10th Parliament), 2018 (11th Parliament), and most recently in 2023 (12th Parliament) – the people of Dumuria-Phultala of Khulna elected him to represent them in the Jatiya Sangsad (House of the Nation) for the fifth time with unwavering confidence in him. He was a member of the Committee on Public Undertakings, Committee on Estimates, Standing Committee on Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Standing Committee on Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Standing Committee on Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Standing Committee on Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for different terms in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Mr. Narayon Chandra Chanda served as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock from 2014 to 2018 and later as a full Minister in the same Ministry from January 2, 2018, until some times in 2019. During his tenure, Bangladesh witnessed remarkable progress in the fisheries and livestock sector, which included increasing fish production, reviving domestic fish production, and successful efforts to produce cattle and cow milk. His bold steps and innovative initiatives played an important role in ensuring the country’s preparedness to address the sacrificial livestock crisis during the Eid al-Adha. After being elected as a member of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad, he was sworn in as a minister on 11 January 2024 and was given the charge of the Ministry of Land.
Early career and profession: Before the publication of the results of the post-graduate examination, Mr. Narayon Chandra Chanda began his career as Headmaster of Sahas Noakati High School in Dumuria Upazila in 1967. In 1973, he was appointed as the headmaster of Dumuria Nitya Gopal Chowdhury and Nabin Chandra Kundu (NGC and NCK) High School. In 1974, with his tireless efforts, the SSC examination center was introduced in Dumuria. Earlier, students had to take exams in Khulna city. He passed his B.Ed in 1972-73 while working as a teacher. He retired from the teaching profession in 2005.
In 1968, he established the ‘Thana Secondary Teachers Association’ to bring together the high school teachers and served as its founding general secretary. In 1987, he was elected president of the District Secondary Teachers’ Association. He served as president of the teachers’ association for two decades until 2007.
Philanthropy and Social Activities: Mr. Narayon Chandra Chanda is affiliated with various social, cultural, and humanitarian organizations. Narayon Chandra Chanda, an educationist, education entrepreneur, and education reformer, founded ‘Palli Jagarani High School’ at Jabra and ‘Ula Maikhali High School’ at Ula in Bhandarpara of Dumuria, Khulna. In addition, he established two more primary schools which were later nationalized. Besides, he had an impeccable role in the establishment of various educational institutions including Dumuria College and Dumuria Shaheed Smriti Mohila College. As a headmaster, his role in developing and progressing the old traditional NGC and NCK High School in Dumuria is a reflection of an unwavering dedication to the spread of education in society.
Personal life: Narayon Chandra Chanda, the son of the late Kalipada Chanda and late Renuka Bala Chanda, was born on March 12, 1945, in village Ula in Dumuria upazila of Khulna district. He started his education at ‘Ula Village Pathshala’. He then attended Banda Secondary School. Later, he passed the Matriculation examination from Dumuria NGC and NCK Secondary School in 1961 and the Higher Secondary Examination from Government BL College, Khulna in 1963. He obtained a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science in 1966 and an M.A. in the same field in 1967 from the University of Rajshahi. Narayon Chandra Chanda’s wife Usha Rani Chanda is a school teacher. The Chanda couple is blessed with a daughter and three sons.