The Laksam Sub-Registry Office in Cumilla has become a hub of alleged massive corruption and irregularities, with reports of officials extorting lakhs of Taka from the public.
Laksam, consisting of a municipality, nine wards, and eight unions with a population of approximately five lakhs, relies on this office for the registration of all land-related deeds, including gifts, sub-deeds, partition deeds, power of attorneys, deeds of gift, and mortgages.
According to numerous victims, the process is marred by systemic corruption. Complaints allege that documents are first submitted to Office Assistant Md. Sayem, who then forwards them to Sub-Registrar Md. Sazzadul Kabir. The office registers nearly one hundred deeds daily.
Victims claim that Sayem, in collusion with the Sub-Registrar, finds false faults in the deeds. They allegedly use document writers to create pretexts for demanding extra money, such as wrongly classifying commercial land as barren, high-value property as low-quality, or land with ponds as inferior. It is reported that they extort massive sums by threatening to withhold registration.
A well-established unofficial "rate card" is allegedly in operation: BDT 20,000 for a deed involving two mouzas, BDT 20,000 for inheritance-related deeds, BDT 5,000 for any discrepancy in the National ID card, an additional BDT 5,000 per deed for any registration required after official office hours.
Furthermore, extra money is allegedly collected under the guise of pay orders, causing severe harassment to the general public.
The office assistant, Md. Sayem, is described as a trusted associate of Mohabbat Ali, a powerful local Awami League leader and former Upazila Vice-Chairman, who is said to control all government offices in the area. Sources claim that during the previous government's term, Sayem provided financial support to Mohabbat Ali to retain his position.
Several affected individuals, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the Laksam Sub-Registry Office has become a den of corruption. They alleged that in the absence of an elected local government, officials are holding the public hostage and swindling large amounts of money.
When contacted for comment, Laksam Sub-Registrar Md. Sazzadul Kabir denied any involvement. "I am not involved in any kind of corruption or irregularity," he said. "Irregularities happen due to the collusion of some document writers and middlemen. If I get proof that anyone is collecting money using my name, I will take necessary action against them."
The public awaits a thorough investigation into these serious allegations to ensure transparency and justice.
