Bribery rampant at Bauphal Union Land Office
Bauphal (Patuakhali) Correspondent
The Kalaiya Union Land Office in Bauphal Upazila of Patuakhali is a hotbed of corruption. There have been allegations that service seekers are being forced to pay bribes to get any land-related work done here. No work is completed even after years of visits without paying money.
Recently, a victim of the Mahasin Panchayat complained that he had not been able to pay his land rent (land development tax) for three to four consecutive years due to irregularities and bribery demands by the local Deputy Assistant Land Officer Md. Tariqul Islam.
Mohsin Panchayat said that he had repeatedly visited the Kalaiya Union Land Office to pay the rent for his 123 khatian and 1353 khatian. He could not pay the rent online from outside. But when he went to the office to submit it, the officials said, "We cannot pay from outside, we have to do it online from here. We have to stamp the documents, submit the form." Then he was informed that he would have to pay 1,500 taka for each khatian. Mohsin said, "Since I have four khatians, I have to pay a total of 6,000 taka. If I don't, it won't work."
He further alleged, "I finally forced myself to pay 1,500 taka despite many requests. Tariqul Islam approved my file only after I paid the money. However, I paid the government fee from my own cash account. I had to bribe them just to proceed with the work. I have video evidence of this time."
He was also harassed over a deed made in 2024. He said, "When I went to pay the rent after completing the deed record mission, Tariqul Islam told me that the entry was fake and I would have to pay rent for 30-35 years. This resulted in a rent of more than 8,000 taka being levied on me. Because of this, I have not been able to pay the rent yet."
In this regard, the accused Deputy Assistant Land Officer Md. Tariqul Islam told reporters, "I took 1,500 taka from him. I paid his rent with that money. I did not demand a bribe from anyone. Some extra money was taken because we had to bring people from outside to do the work."
However, Mahasin claims, "I paid the government money for my rent myself from my cash account. They just took bribes."
Several general land service recipients from Kalaiya Union also complained that no work can be done in this office without money. "To do work worth 100 rupees, you have to pay a bribe of 2,000 rupees, otherwise you have to travel for years."
Bauphal Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) said, "This should not have happened, I am looking into the matter seriously. If proven, action will be taken against the accused Deputy Assistant Land Officer Tariqul Islam."
Locals say that common people have been suffering for years due to corruption and bribery in the land office. They have demanded an investigation into the matter and immediate action.
