Corruption in land offices
The heinous
practice by these elements has robbed many genuine land owners of their lands and made many fake land owners
A court in Narayanganj sent two persons to jail on charges of forging land-related documents with a view to grabbing a piece of land in Tarabo municipality under Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj district recently. According to a recent media report, the arrested persons were trying to grab a land measuring 10 decimals through forged documents. It is quite disturbing to note that corruption in the land offices in the country is rampant. The corrupt people are always looking for opportunities to gain financially by fair means or foul. Many enjoy the patronage of politically influential persons.
Similarly a section of officials and employees in land registration offices and other land related offices throughout the country are resorting to malpractice. They are making fortunes while innocent persons are bearing the brunt of the situation. Corruption in land offices is an open secret but the way the menace is spreading its tentacles is worrying.
The corrupt practices range from changing the ownership of lands, taking bribes to the realisation of higher fees than the government fixed rates. The people who can grease the palms of corrupt elements or can flex muscle can get things done in the quickest possible time. In most cases, ordinary citizens have to run from pillar to post for getting things done. In the process, they have to suffer financial losses and face unnecessary harassment for no fault of their own.
The corrupt people have amassed fabulous wealth showing thumbs to the laws of the land. Syndicates of touts have also grown centering around the land-related transactions. The heinous practice by these elements robbed many genuine land owners of their lands and made some fake land owners. This kind of heinous practice cannot be allowed to thrive in a civilised country or society. The rot must be stopped forthwith.
It is heartening to note that computerisation of land-related documents is addressing the problems to some extent. Under this system it will not be easy to tamper with land documents by dishonest elements. This system has been introduced in a limited scale. This should be strengthened immediately. Transparency and accountability of all work must be ensured. Stringent action should be taken against the dishonest officials and other staff members in the interest of good governance and weeding out corruption.
