Tk 4,369 speed money for buyer, Tk 4,583 for seller

A buyer and a seller have to spent Tk 4,369 and Tk 4,583 respectively on an average as speed money in land transaction in Barisal.
These are among many other types of corruption revealed during investigation and survey on land administration, made by Transparency International, Bangladesh(TIB).
The survey report was presented at Barisal Press Club yesterday by the Conscious Citizens' Committee (CCC), a wing of TIB.
The whole system of land registration and survey is plagued with corruption, which creates sufferings of people.
In land survey, a household has to pay Tk 4,104 on a average. After payment of speed money, a client has to spend at least six months to collect attested copy of any document and nine months to change the land owner's name on records and revenue offices, the survey report said.
A total of 361 households in 30 villages in Barisal Sadar upazila and 20 wards in Barisal City Corporation were covered under the survey done from May 21 to July 2006 to examine service standard. The report also made proposals for improvement in land administration and revenue collection system.
Barisal CCC member Kazi Selina read out the survey report. CCC president Manobendra Batobayal presided. Noted educationists, lawyers, retired government officials and CCC members were present.
During the survey, the people interviewed expressed their utter dissatisfaction over 'corruption and harassment' at land offices, the report said.
The report suggested that the process of land registration and survey, made during British rule is very cumbersome, with scope of corruption by officials. The process should be made easier to reduce corruption and harassment, the report said.
It suggested hanging charts at land offices detailing information on land registration system and fees, land tax and identify officials dealing with specific work. This will improve the service and reduce corruption, he report said.
It also suggested that neighboring landowners should be made witnesses in land deeds to avoid future dispute over land and demarcation.
CCC sources said land administration officials including assistant commissioner of land, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), zonal settlement officer and Sadar upazila land sub-registrar were invited, but none attending the program.