Bribes determined based on type and amount of land: Rupganj's AC Land transferred

Bribes determined based on type and amount of land: Rupganj's AC Land transferred

National Desk :    |    ০৭:২৭ পিএম, ২০২৫-০৪-১০

Sharif Bhuiyan: (Narayanganj) Correspondent: The controversial Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ubaidur Rahman Sahel of Purbachal Revenue Circle in Rupganj, Narayanganj district, who fixed bribes based on type and amount of land, was transferred on Tuesday, April 8. On the orders of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner, he was transferred as Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Kotalipara Upazila of Gopalganj district. The news of the transfer of arbitrary AC Land Ubaidur Rahman Sahel has brought relief to the land owners of the area. The general land owners are relieved that he has been transferred elsewhere. The land owners expect the newly joined AC Land Md. Tasbir Hossain to quickly conduct other activities including bribe-free registration. The government-set costs for registration or cancellation of registration are court fee of 20 taka, notice issuance of 50 taka, ledger fee of 100 taka, record correction fee of 1 thousand taka, totaling 1 thousand 170 taka. In this case, ACLAND Ubaidur Rahman Sahel determined the bribe amount based on the type and amount of land. Accordingly, in the case of registration, the assigned property is registered for land published in the 'A' list, land published in the 'B' list and normal land. As for the type of land, registration of 1 percent of land published in the 'A' list is 5 thousand taka, registration of 1 percent of land published in the 'B' list is 3 thousand taka and registration of 1 percent to 10 percent of normal land is 10 thousand taka to 20 thousand taka, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ubaidur Rahman Sahel became controversial by fixing the bribe amount. Besides, the land title of 3 katha plots in Purbachal upazila of RAJUK was fixed at 20 thousand taka, land title of 5 katha plots at 30 thousand taka, land title of 7 and a half katha plots at 40 thousand taka and land title of 10 katha plots at 75 thousand taka. The amount of money was collected more according to the average of the land documents. It is alleged that 25 percent of the collected money was taken by the Union Land Office, 25 percent by the Surveyor and Kanungo, and 50 percent by Assistant Commissioner Land Ubaidur Rahman Sahel.

Taking the opportunity, the union tehsildars indulged in bribery. On July 14, 2024, former Chhatra League leader Ubaidur Rahman Sahel joined the Purbachal Revenue Circle of Rupganj as Assistant Commissioner (Land). Since joining, he has turned the Upazila Land Office into an arena of irregularities, bribery and corruption. After that, news was also published in various media outlets about various irregularities and corruption in the Upazila Land Office. Various allegations were made against him, including using government vehicles for personal purposes, registering (dismissing) land on fake documents, abusing power and harassing service seekers. It is known that Ubaidur Rahman Sahel joined the Purbachal Revenue Circle as Assistant Commissioner (Land) on the instructions of former Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, who was elected in the last National Parliament election. The Purbachal Revenue Circle was formed by Kanchan Municipality, Daudpur, Bholabo, Rupganj and Kateyapara Unions of Rupganj. Golam Dastagir Gazi Housing Project G Park was built in the Keyaria area of ​​Baghbere in Rupganj Union. More than fifty housing projects were built in Kanchan Municipality, Kateyapara, Bholabo and Daudpur Unions. Ubaidur Rahman Sahel was appointed in charge here. Along with the housing project, a huge amount of money was taken from ordinary land owners to register the names. One person's land was registered in the name of another. Again, if there was a mistake, the land was given to the rightful owner in exchange for money. This money is being divided proportionally among the officials and employees of the land office. In the last one year, Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ubaidur Rahman Sahel has purchased a plot in the Gutiabo area of ​​Sector No. 3 of Purbachal Sub-city and the surrounding areas. He has become the owner of a huge amount of money. Ubaidur Rahman Sahel, who is a Chhatra League member, took a huge amount of money to register the land. In collusion with the housing project, land is forcibly filled with sand, forged documents, and fake documents without buying the land. To get rid of these housing projects, landowners file cases of registration and mis-registration. And registering in this office means incurring immense suffering. They delay registration by negotiating with the owners of the AC Land housing project in exchange for money. Landowners become helpless before Ubaidur Rahman Sahel. Settlement of agricultural land among the landless, correction of mistakes in the ledger, registration and deposit distribution, objections to land development tax assessment, correction of records based on the judgment or order of the civil court, disposal of applications for change of land class, consolidation of deposits, and provision of duplicate or certified copies of orders in various cases - none of these work is done without money. The money that brokers take from the service recipients is also divided and distributed in various stages. In the land office, extra money is taken illegally and disregarding government rules for all activities including land registration, deposit, rent collection, and land plot (draft) preparation. No file moves without the contract money. Landowners are fed up with his corruption. This bribe-taking land officer continues to commit corruption as he pleases. Assistant Commissioner of Purbachal Revenue Circle Ubaidur Rahman Sahel denied the allegations against him and said, "I have been transferred." He refused to say anything more, showing his busy schedule. In this regard, newly-joined Assistant Commissioner of Purbachal Revenue Circle Md. Tasbir Hossain said, "If the digital service for land registration, e-registration server, is in place, the common man will get the registration at the right time without suffering, harassment, and bribery."