As the land ministry wants to make a breakthrough in the fight against corruptions and all sorts of irregularities, it is going to intensify surprise visits to its offices from grassroots to central especially union level land offices across the country immediately, highly placed sources in the land ministry said.
Therefore, more stringent measures are going to be taken to ensure corruption-free land services for ensuring national interest. No corrupt official or employee will be spared, a high up of land ministry said, adding all deputy commissioners will be instructed to launch the surprise visit soon.
The divisional commissioners of the land ministry have been asked to intensify the surprise to prevent corruption and become strict to assure corruption-free land services this time in a recent meeting with land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury.
When contacted, land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury told Bangladesh Post that his ministry shows zero-tolerance stance against corruption and wants to provide better services to the people.
The surprise visits (Jhotika Paridarshan) will be intensified by the officials concerned to alleged land offices across the country to prevent corruption.
“Moreover, if any allegation against any land officials proven true, immediate action will be taken against him/her,” he added.
The land ministry has introduced an online mutation system as part of the government’s ‘digital Bangladesh’ slogan to prevent corruption.
But the culture of corruptions still engulfs especially union land offices across the country.
Mohammad Mahmud Molla, a deputy assistant land officer of Baisona and Pahordanga Union Parishads under Naragati police station in Narail district has made people’s life a living hell in many ways, local alleged.
“Mohammad Mahmud Molla, a deputy assistant land officer has compelled me on Monday to give him bribe Taka 3036 from me for paying land development tax of our 39/14 decimal of land. He gave me the tax payment receipt containing Taka 1164 while he took Taka 4200 from me,” Abul Kalam Sikder, a resident of village Dumraia at Baisona under Naragati police station in Narail district told Bangladesh Post.
Komela Begum of Mulossri village at Pahordanga Union alleged that Nayeb Mahmud asked her to give bribe for including her name in order to get prime minister’s gift house.
“I failed to give him bribe so that my name was not included in the list,” he said wailing.
Nipa, daughter of Jamal Molla of Bagudanga village at same union alleged the Nayeb offered her to develop physical relations with him.
“If I develop physical relations with him (Mahmud) he would resolve my land related problems,” she said.
Dalim, daughter of Nujhmem Mollah of village Mulosri of same union also alleged that Nayeb several times allured her of getting prime minister’s gift if she would develop physical relations with him.
“Mahmud Hossain can’t be a human being. A government official like him I did never see in my life. He is a butcher. I’m a 75 years old man. He has misbehaved with me, harassed and humiliated me in many ways when I have gone to him for paying tax. He compelled me to give him bribe,” Mustafa Sikder, a villager of Baguadanga told Bangladesh Post.
Common people, especially the service seekers of Pahordanga Union and Baisona Parishads, are now totally irritated, disgusted and embarrassed with the unethical and immoral behaviour of Mahmud Hossain, deputy assistant land officer also widely known nayeb, the local alleged in the written allegations which were submitted to the deputy commissioner, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Narial and assistant commissioner land, Kalia.
Being harassed and humiliated, the aggrieved local people on March 16 submitted the written allegation demanding immediate removal of the deputy assistant land officer Mohammad Mahmud Hossain Molla.
They also called upon the deputy commissioner, additional commissioner (revenue) and assistant commissioner to carry out a field level investigation into the allegations of corruption, irregularities, humiliations, sexual harassment and abuse of power what they brought against Mahmud Hossain Molla.
“We demand justice. We are urging the authorities concerned to free our union land office from the clutches of Mahmud Molla who knows nothing but bribe and humiliations,” Mohammad Golam Kabir who submitted the written allegations, told Bangladesh Post.
Later, as per the written allegations a probe body led by Md Zohurul Islam, assistant commissioner (land) of Kalia Upazila visited the spot for carrying investigation about the allegations brought against him and talked to local people.
He also assured local of taking departmental steps against him if he is found guilty.
But, about two and a half months have elapsed, no action has been taken against him as Mahmud Molla somehow managed and convinced his higher authorities, branding common people conspirators.
And such grim scenario is prevailing at most of the union land offices across the country as the people do not get service from the Nayeb without bribe.
Being blessed by the higher authority, Mahmud, the Nayeb has become more desperate, and swells like a turkey-cock.
In association with some of the local influentials, Mahmud is committing unbridled corruption and harassing and humiliating common people especially poor who fail to meet his demand.
Besides, he also plays key role in grabbing land in exchange of bribe.
Apart from these, he also asked people specially the widows to give him fifty thousand so that he would arrange prime minister’s housing gift for homeless people in locality.
And even he also proposed some young women especially widows for developing physical relations with him so that he can manage PM’s gift house for them without money.
Since his joining as Nayeb in Pahordanga Union, he could not be found available at his office when people go to the land office for paying land development tax and other related works.
And when the service seekers called the Nayeb over phone, he replies “I am just outside right now and may be some time” asking them to come his house after the dusk.
As a result sometimes service seekers are compelled to go to his residence and wait for long time to sit with him together.
As he is shown the previous tax-receipt, the Nayeb without going through it says this one has not been done properly.
He voices a note of warning saying, “No previous tax-receipt will be accepted to me. You must pay the land development tax to me since its purchasing date.”
The Nayeb then prepare the account sheets containing huge amount of additional taka and give to the service seeker.
Later, he issues fresh tax-receipt according to government rate.
And when people ask for why the Nayeb Mahmud Molla takes away huge amount of money from them, he says “the rest money will be spent for office purpose. It is my office cost.”
The statement also includes multiple allegations against him like in association with some local influentials and hoodlums sold out soil of government’s land.
When the service seekers go to the Nayeb’ home or office for knowing the process of mutation of a name in the official register, he compels the owners of the land to come for a verbal agreements.
And later he takes Tk 15 to 20 thousand from each service seeker illegally and immorally.
The statement also says that with the help of some local influential, Mahmud Hossain is also regularly cutting down trees and selling them out in broad day light.
Contacted Mohammad Habibur Rahman, deputy commissioner, Narail told Bangladesh Post that investigation against Nayeb Mahmud is going on.
“When I obtain the investigation report, based on findings proper action will be taken against him if the allegations brought against him are proved”.
However, when asked, how an alleged official got an additional responsibility, he replied, “As we have lack of officials here, we have temporarily given him the responsibility of another union.”
Talking to Bangladesh Post Md Zohurul Islam, assistant commissioner (land) of Kalia Upazila, the investigation officer said, “I have already submitted the investigation report. Departmental action will be taken against him immediately”.
When our Narail Correspondent contacted Nayeb Mahmud Molla he denied the allegations brought against him.
