Land buyers and sellers have alleged widespread harassment and the collection of unauthorised fees by an organised syndicate at the Haluaghat sub-registry office in Mymensingh.
According to complaints from service seekers and reports in local media, the group has become increasingly influential, making it difficult for people to register deeds or obtain land-related services without paying additional charges beyond the government-set fees.
The alleged practices frequently lead to disputes and commotion at the office, the complainants said.
They alleged that individuals associated with the former Awami League government and a section of the BNP were jointly involved in the syndicate, which continued to collect mandatory payments from land buyers and sellers despite the change of government.
Nazim Ahmed, a former BNP leader in Haluaghat, said the fall of the Awami League government had not ended the influence of its associates.
“It is a case of the same situation continuing under a different guise,” he said, alleging that the syndicate had re-established its influence in government institutions.
Nazim further alleged that the group was collecting additional payments from service seekers in the name of the Haluaghat Upazila Deed Writers’ Association with the support of an influential local BNP leader.
Several service seekers alleged that officials deliberately delayed deed registration and other land-related services on various pretexts if applicants did not approach the office through members of the syndicate.
They called on the upazila administration and local law enforcement agencies to explain what measures had been taken to remove brokers and prevent unauthorised fee collection at the office.
Haluaghat Upazila Deed Writers’ Association President Golam Mostafa, however, rejected the allegations of large-scale extortion.
“There are no such allegations here. What supporters of local MP Salman Md Rubel did after gathering that day had no basis,” he said.
Golam Mostafa said the Upazila Nirbahi Officer had summoned representatives of the association over the matter and had been informed of their position.
He acknowledged that the association collected money, saying, “We take some money in coordination with the party. Otherwise, how would we operate? We charge Tk2,000, or Tk2,500 at most, from a person. There is no large-scale extortion here.”
Haluaghat Sub-Registrar Golam Sarwar could not be reached for comment despite several phone calls seeking his response to the allegations of irregularities and unauthorised fee collection.
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