A brazen act of corruption by a local land official was caught on camera and has sparked public fury in Sirajganj. A viral video circulating on social media shows Mohammad Ratan Ali, the Sub-Assistant Land Officer of Brahmagacha Union, openly accepting a bribe from a citizen in broad daylight.
The incident, which took place on a roadside in Raiganj Upazila, shows Ali stopping a motorcycle and then taking money directly from an unidentified individual. The video has ignited widespread criticism and confirmed long-standing public grievances about the land office's operations.
Local residents have come forward with allegations that bribery is not an isolated incident but a standard requirement for any service at the Brahmagacha Union Land Office. They claim that no work, be it land registration, deed cancellation, or document verification, can be completed without an unofficial payment. This "culture of corruption" has caused significant outrage among citizens who are demanding essential services that they are rightfully entitled to.
When contacted for comment, the accused officer, Mohammad Ratan Ali, was unavailable and could not be reached on his mobile phone.
However, the supervising official has acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations. In a phone conversation, Mohammad Masud Rana, the Raiganj Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land), confirmed that administrative steps are already in motion. "We have already issued him a letter and asked for an explanation," stated Rana. He further assured that "if the incident is confirmed, legal action will be taken against him."
The public is now watching closely to see if this viral evidence will lead to meaningful accountability and deter future corruption.
