PATUAKHALI — About 15 to 20 residents confined Kazi Md. Jahidul Islam, the union land assistant officer of Rangabali upazila in Patuakhali, for at least 30 minutes on Sunday, demanding the return of money they said they had paid him as bribes.
The confrontation took place at the Sadar union land office around 1 p.m.
Upazila Ansar member Uddin and acting union land assistant officer Zakir Hossain later defused the situation on behalf of Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rajib Das Purakaystha, who assured the residents the matter would be resolved quickly and accepted their written complaints.
The residents said Islam had taken large sums as bribes for impounding excavators, settling khas land, online land development tax, holding approvals, mutations, recovery of government canals and ponds, and case reports. They said those who refused to pay were harassed, and brokers issued threats. Many residents said they paid under duress, but Islam often took the money and then stalled the work on various pretexts.
They added that recent news reports detailing irregularities and corruption allegations against the officer had fueled rumors of his transfer, prompting them to demand their money back.
Islam’s mobile phone was switched off when contacted for comment.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rajib Das Purakaystha told Kalbela he was attending a meeting at the district headquarters. “I have heard about the matter. We will investigate once we receive written complaints from everyone,” he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Masud Ul Alam told Kalbela he had been informed of the incident and would discuss it with the deputy commissioner.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report