An internally-acclaimed latest system of digital land services like registration, mutation and tax payment is being allegedly abused by rent-seeking nexuses in and around land-management offices across Bangladesh.
The tip of the iceberg showed up during a spot probe by a mission of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) which virtually got deluged with allegations by sufferers.
On February 12, 2017, the e-Namjari( e-mutation) system was officially launched for piloting before implementation countrywide to put an end to ages of agonies and graft associated with manual services in land offices. Currently, the e-mutation system is operational in all sub-district land offices across the 61 districts nationwide, achieving 100- percent coverage.
To provide technical support for system users, there is a dedicated helpline, and a call centre in operation for the public, according to the Ministry of Land.
By now, the system is operational in 4,605 offices across all the 61 districts. The total number of active users in the Namjari system is 8,366 individuals, ministry officials said.
The government has been working to digitise the land-management system to reduce public suffering and fulfil government's smart-Bangladesh vision.
The Digital Land (Development) Tax system of Bangladesh, administered under the Ministry of Land, secured the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) award in 2022.
International Teleco-mmunications Union (ITU) Secretary-General Houlin Zhao handed over the WSIS trophy to Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury at an event held in Switzerland last year.
However, a spot investigation by this correspond, as well as government's internal system findings, has revealed that service-recipients continue to endure hardships and are compelled to offer sops to access various digital land services.
Despite the accolade bestowed upon the Digital Land (Development) Tax system, the stark reality on the ground demonstrates persistent challenges for service-seekers. Instances of alleged underhand dealings still mar the process, hindering the seamless delivery of digital land services.
The top ten government organisations with the highest number of grievances placed in the Grievance Redress System (GRS) include the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Division, Law and Justice Division, the Ministry of Land, the Ministry of Public Administration, Road Transport and Highways Division, Technical and Madrasah Education Division, Financial Institutions Division, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, Finance Division, and Local Government Division, according to a2i data.
"The Ministry of Land ranked third, receiving a significant 704 complaints in 2022, highlighting the widespread sufferings or grievances faced by service-recipients," it says.
On January 30, 2023, in Gazipur, Secretary of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mahbub Hossain, announced that nearly 100 complaints were presented during a public hearings conducted by the commission.
Of the 100 complaints, Taslim, Rafiq, Hasan Yusuf Khan and Yakub Ali, along with 24 others, filed complaints related to land issues. They alleged irregularities, including manipulation of land area during registration, unauthorised issuance of land deeds, transferring one person's land to another, and allocating more land than specified in designated areas.
These actions have sparked disputes among landowners. The complainants specifically implicated officials like Shachin Kumar Rajbanshi from Sonmaniria Land Office, Ikbal and Saiful from Tongi Land Office and Rumi from Gazipur City Land Office.
They stated that collusion among middlemen in these land offices caused confusion and distress among service-recipients.
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