Bribery Allegations in Digital Land Survey in Manikganj's Singair, Surveyors Leave With Work Unfinished

Landowners in Singair upazila of Manikganj have alleged that extra money is being taken from them under the Bangladesh Digital Survey (BDS) programme. Victims say land is not being entered into the record unless money is paid. There are also allegations that, in exchange for money, one person's land has been recorded in another person's name. Many landowners have fallen into trouble after the surveyors concerned left the area without finishing the survey work.

According to the upazila settlement office and local sources, land survey and record preparation work under the BDS is under way in Fatehpur mouza of Chandhar union and in Binodpur Barakhand mouza of Singair upazila. Although the programme is meant to ensure accurate measurement of land, determination of ownership and error-free records, irregularities at the field level have caused concern among local people.

Md Siraj of Barta village alleged that he and his family have two and a half bighas of land in the names of his father and uncles. To enter the land into the record, the surveyor in charge demanded Tk 30,000 for every decimal.

Siraj said: 'Where the price of the land itself is Tk 30,000 per decimal, how will I keep the land if I pay the surveyors Tk 30,000 each?' He alleged that because he could not pay, his land was not recorded, with various excuses shown.

Habib ur Rahman of the same village said Tk 9,000 was demanded to record his 10 decimals of land. He was also told the land would not be recorded if he did not pay. He later paid the Tk 9,000 and had his land recorded.

According to Habibur Rahman, Tk 30,000 was demanded through a middleman to record his sister-in-law's 10 decimals of land in the same plot. Because she could not pay the demanded money, her land was not recorded.

Ruhul Amin of Fatehpur village alleged that although the deed and possession of the land are in his name, about six decimals of land have been recorded in the name of a neighbouring person. He claimed the work was done in exchange for money. He is now going from office to office looking for those concerned to correct the record. The surveyors, however, have already left the area.

A local man named Latif alleged that thousands of taka have to be paid to those concerned to get survey and record work done. If money can be paid, land is included in the record; if not, land is not recorded even when the necessary documents exist. He said there are also allegations of recording someone else's land in another person's name in exchange for money.

A landowner named Poly also alleged that extra money was taken for the survey work. She said the incidents have created anger among local people. Because the surveyors left without finishing, owners whose survey and record work remains incomplete have fallen into uncertainty.

Responding to the allegations, surveyor Alauddin said their work is finished for now. Survey work will start again after a few months. Dismissing the allegation of taking extra money at the field level as baseless, he said they took no money.

Singair Upazila Settlement Officer Abdur Razzak said he is not aware of allegations of extra money being taken in the field-level survey work. However, if a specific complaint is received, the matter will be examined and necessary action taken against those concerned.

Singair Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khairunnahar Popy said: 'There is no scope for taking money for land survey work. If such allegations are received, an investigation will be carried out and necessary action taken. If, because of an error in the survey, someone's land has been recorded in another person's name, there is an opportunity to correct it under the relevant rules.'