Video of Land Official Taking Bribes Sparks Investigation in Faridpur
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A video showing a land office official in Faridpur’s Nagarkanda upazila accepting money has sparked public outrage, marking the second such incident in the district within a short span. The 22-second clip, which circulated widely on social media on Monday, depicts Sarwar Hossain, the assistant land officer for Dangi Union, counting cash at his desk before pocketing the money and promising to complete the service provider’s request within a month.
In the footage, the service seeker is heard asking the official to count the money, to which Hossain dismissively replies that the transaction is immaterial to the completion of the task. He further assures the individual that he will attempt to expedite the process, though he stipulates a one-month timeline for resolution. While the exact amount of cash exchanged remains unverified, the video has reignited concerns over systemic corruption in local land administration offices.
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When confronted with the recording, Hossain denied the allegations, characterizing the video as “edited.” He did not provide further details regarding the supposed manipulation of the footage, maintaining that such illicit activities do not occur within his office.
The incident has drawn corroborating allegations from local officials. A member of the Dangi Union Parishad, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that Hossain regularly demands excessive payments. The representative alleged that the official once charged him 10,000 taka for a personal task while recording only 6,600 taka in the official ledger, later returning a portion of the funds to mitigate suspicion.
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Nagarkanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rezwana Afrin confirmed she has seen the video. She stated that while she is still familiarizing herself with the staff, the administration is treating the matter with urgency and will initiate the necessary disciplinary actions against the official.
This development follows the recent suspension of an assistant land officer in Boalmari upazila’s Satair Union, who was removed from his post after a similar video of him accepting a bribe went viral. The recurring nature of these incidents has prompted calls for stricter oversight of land office operations across Faridpur.
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