Land office has no land

The land office has no land of its own, nor does it have a road. Hundreds of people are suffering while coming to receive services. Although it was reported that the District Council had allocated funds for road construction, the Upazila administration says that no allocation has been obtained so far.

Land office sources say that since its establishment, the Sohagi Union Land Office in Ishwarganj, Mymensingh, has never had its own road. Later, when approximately 14 decimals of government land from a pond in front of the office were identified, the then Assistant Commissioner (Land) Iqbal Hossain took initiative to resolve the matter.

After an exchange (ewaj) deed of land was completed with the pond owner, a portion of the pond bank became available as a passageway for accessing the land office. Currently, officials, employees, and service recipients use that narrow pond bank to go back and forth. 

An on-site visit revealed that even motorcycle movement on that dirt path is risky. There is no scope for rickshaws or other vehicles to enter. While traversing the high and narrow pond bank, there is a risk of accidents at any moment. The situation becomes even more severe during the rainy season.

However, a local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, presented a different account. He claimed that the Sohagi Union Land Office once had a road. The road was quite wide, and even bullock carts used to ply on it. However, gradually, with the collusion of dishonest people from the land office, the road was closed off and the land was occupied. The road land was recorded under private ownership. Houses were built on the encroached land. Since then, the land office has been functioning without a road.

Mohammad Helal Uddin, the Nayeb (Assistant) of the land office, said, "We have been operating for a long time without our own road. Land for the road was arranged through an exchange deed (ewaj). An agreement was made with the pond owner. Now, if the allocation work is implemented quickly, the public's suffering will be greatly reduced."

He said that they have heard that the District Council has allocated funds for road construction.

Local resident Abdullah Al Bakir said, "We used to be able to easily commute to the Sohagi Union Land Office. Now it is difficult. It is even harder for elderly people like us. We need a proper and accessible road."

Upazila Executive Officer Sanjida Rahman gave a different account regarding the allocation. She said, "No allocation has come from the District Council for the Sohagi Union Land Office. An application for allocation was made, but no allocation was given. A new application will be submitted."

Regarding the matter, multiple attempts were made to contact Salahuddin Biswas, the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Ishwarganj, via mobile phone, but he did not respond.