Bangladeshi expatriates living abroad can now directly submit complaints and applications seeking solutions to land-related and other civic service issues in Dhaka through the ‘Hello DC’ app.

The app, launched by the Dhaka District Administration, allows expatriates to report problems, seek guidance and learn about available remedies without being physically present in Bangladesh.

Recently, UK-based expatriate Nazmul Hossain filed a complaint through the app over the alleged occupation of his land. He said others had taken possession of his property while he had been living abroad for an extended period.

The Dhaka District Commissioner’s Office confirmed the matter in a notice issued on Wednesday (August 12).

Nazmul Hossain said he has been living in England for nearly 19 years. In 2018, he purchased two and a half kathas of land in Manikdia, in the Cantonment area of Gulshan-Jowar Sahara in the capital. He alleged that several neighboring individuals occupied the land because he was unable to return to Bangladesh after purchasing it.

He said, “As I was not in the country, people living nearby occupied my property. Later, when my relatives went there, they were also threatened. As a result, I could not take possession of the property. I wanted to know how I could resolve the issue after returning to the country. Then I learned that I could submit an application through the Hello DC app.”

He subsequently downloaded the Hello DC app and submitted his complaint. After receiving the application, the Dhaka District Administration contacted him and provided the necessary guidance on resolving the matter.

The district administration informed him that he would need to submit an application to the District Commissioner’s Office under the Land Crime Prevention and Remedy Act, 2023, to seek redress in the land dispute.

The administration said the necessary documents would be examined and verified after receiving the application. A hearing would then be conducted in accordance with the law before steps are taken to resolve the matter.

Nazmul Hossain said, “Being able to contact the district administration from abroad, explain my problem and learn about the process for seeking a remedy has been very helpful to me.”

The initiative has enabled expatriate Bangladeshis to communicate more easily with the Dhaka District Administration regarding land and property, government services and various civic issues. The Hello DC app is therefore becoming an effective means for expatriates to access government services while living abroad.

Dhaka District Commissioner Farida Khanam said, “Expatriates are an important part of our country. As they live abroad for long periods, they often cannot directly contact the relevant offices regarding their land, property or other civic service-related issues. Considering this, we are working to make the Hello DC service more citizen-friendly and accessible. Our goal is to ensure that an expatriate can inform us of their problems from abroad and learn about the appropriate process for obtaining a remedy.”