Rampant extortion by a broker syndicate at the Bheramara Upazila Sub-Registry Office in Kushtia has severely harassed ordinary citizens. The government office has reportedly become a sanctuary for corrupt individuals, with service seekers alleging they are forced to pay thousands of takas in illegal fees.
Confidential information is allegedly being compromised as unauthorized individuals—often relatives of document writers—are permitted to handle original government registry volumes. Additionally, unlicenced vendors are reportedly selling Tk 100 stamps for Tk 120 to Tk 130.
Local resident Habibur Rahman complained that document writers extract extra money under various pretexts. Despite government-fixed rates for Heba (gift) and Kabla (sale) deeds, service seekers are allegedly forced to pay three to four times the official fee.
Bribes are reportedly categorized by service: Tk 5,000 to Tk 10,000 for specific land classes, Tk 10,000 to Tk 20,000 for deeds involving multiple mouzas or inheritances, and Tk 5,000 just to bypass minor NID name discrepancies. Additional irregularities occur with pay orders, creating a reckless system of extortion.
One victim, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that high-value property registries require massive under-the-table payments. Another victim shared the disproportionate costs, saying, "I spent Tk 20,000 just to register a document worth Tk 40,000." During a site visit, similar complaints were echoed by nearly all service seekers present.
Office hours are also routinely flouted. While work should begin at 10:00 AM, the sub-registrar frequently arrives after 1:00 PM on certain days, pushing registry activities to 2:00 PM or later. Ironically, service seekers are then penalized with "late fees" if their processing crosses 5:00 PM.
Local civil society members are now demanding a high-level investigation and strict disciplinary action against those involved.
Denying the allegations, Manjur Elahi Sabuj, President of the Bheramara Sub-Registrar Office Document Writers' Association, claimed, "We register land strictly at government-determined fees." General Secretary Ariful Islam Rubel added, "We only take our standard remuneration during registration."
Attempts to contact Bheramara Sub-Registrar Sanjay Kumar Ashadri were unsuccessful. He was absent from the office and did not answer multiple phone calls made by reporters on Thursday and Sunday.
When approached, Bheramara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amirul Arafat stated, "I am new to this upazila. We will look into the matters concerning the sub-registry office."
