A 2-minute-and-51-second audio recording has gone viral on local Facebook accounts, exposing allegations of a Tk 1.20 lakh bribe taken by a land official in Char Rajibpur Upazila, Kurigram. The allegation of accepting the bribe in cash and through mobile financial services (Bkash and Nagad) for processing a land mutation (namjari) has been raised against Md. Saiful Islam, the Union Land Assistant Officer of Mohanganj Union under Char Rajibpur Upazila.
According to the written complaint, the complainant, Anwarul Islam, is a retired government official originally from Char Newaji village in Mohanganj Union. Due to river erosion, he currently resides in the Joddar Para area of neighboring Ulipur Upazila in Kurigram. He reportedly faced harassment while attempting to mutate land inherited in Mohanganj Union.
Anwarul Islam claimed in his complaint that after three initial applications for land mutation were repeatedly rejected, he reached an agreement with the land official and initially handed over Tk 50,000 in cash. Subsequently, he paid an additional Tk 70,000 in multiple installments through Bkash and Nagad, bringing the total bribe amount to Tk 1.20 lakh. He mentioned in the complaint that he has preserved phone call recordings and transaction records as proof, and he shared the 2-minute-and-51-second audio recording on Facebook.
He further alleged that on August 27, 2026, complications arose regarding the mutation of land in Mohanganj Union under the names of the heirs of his three deceased sisters. He had applied for land mutation under the SA Khatian in Dhalgacha Mouza, where the original land area was 0.49 acres under SA Khatian No. 389. However, taking financial benefits, the information in the Khatian was allegedly altered to record the land area as 10.56 acres. According to his complaint, against mutation case numbers 2848/26, 2711/26, and 2846/26, Khatian No. 2026/100008 was issued in the name of Md. Shafiuzzaman Mandal, and Khatian No. 2023/100009 was issued to Mst. Mamtaj Mahal.
The complainant stated that on August 31, 2026, he submitted a written application to the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Char Rajibpur Upazila demanding the cancellation of those mutation Khatians. According to him, the application was logged as Miscellaneous Case No. 44/26. He added that although the BS survey was completed in the relevant Mouza, the RS record was not published for unknown reasons. The land official orally informed him that the land applied for mutation in the names of his deceased sisters' heirs had instead been mutated under another person's name, along with excess land mutated under the names of that individual's family members.
Under these circumstances, Anwarul Islam requested the return of his Tk 1.20 lakh and appealed for intervention from higher authorities to investigate the land mutation allegations and take appropriate legal action.
When contacted regarding the allegations, Union Land Assistant Officer Md. Saiful Islam denied the claims, stating, "The allegation is false, fabricated, and intentionally motivated," before disconnecting the phone. Subsequent calls to him went unanswered as he repeatedly disconnected them.
Addressing the matter, Char Rajibpur Assistant Commissioner (Land) Saikul Hasan said, "We have received the written complaint. Action will be taken following an investigation once directives are received from higher authorities."
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Abu Saim, Rowmari (Kurigram) Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
