Transfer business in Registration Department: Double transfers for same post, order suspended later following lobby
Special Correspondent
Following his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2020 for taking a bribe of Tk 1 lakh, Subrata Kumar Singh, Sub-Registrar of Kushtia Sadar, was sent to jail by the court and temporarily suspended by the Law Ministry.
After spending a month in jail and securing bail, he managed to retain his job by influencing the authorities. Later, Subrata was implicated in a case involving the fraudulent seizure of property worth at least Tk 10 crore belonging to two sisters through forged signatures and fake deeds.
On February 26, 2025, he was sent to jail again by the court. However, instead of being sacked as per regulations, he was transferred on April 28, 2025, from Dinajpur to a coveted posting in Rangpur Sadar. Allegations suggest that he spent a substantial amount to secure this "prize posting" instead of facing dismissal.
According to department officials, over the past three months, 166 sub-registrars and 10 District Registrars have been transferred, with 85 transfers occurring in April alone. Due to the transfer business , instances have occurred where two individuals were transferred to the same post, and some transfer orders were canceled the very next day due to lobbying. Sources claim that a syndicate comprising two Law Ministry officials and two Registration Department officials is orchestrating this transfer trade. In February, 55 Sub-Registrars were transferred, 39 in March, and 85 in April.
For instance, Sub-Registrar Lutfor Rahman Mollah was recently transferred from Uttara to Jaldhaka in Nilphamari. Through lobbying, on April 9, he was reassigned to Sitakunda in Chattogram. Meanwhile, Raihan Habib, who was transferred to Sitakunda as Sub-Registrar just a year ago, was moved to Jamalpur. Subsequently, Raihan Habib’s transfer order to Sitakunda was canceled, as was the transfer order for the Jaldhaka Sub-Registrar. Similarly, Shahidul Islam, Sub-Registrar of Salikha in Magura, was transferred to Jhenaidah Sadar on April 9, but the order was suspended the next day. Abul Hossain, Sub-Registrar of Dhanmondi, was transferred to Chougachha in Jessore and, within a month, reassigned to Muksudpur in Gopalganj.
Sources alleged that the syndicate facilitates transfers to key offices in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Chattogram in exchange for hefty sums. For example, Sohel Rana from Burichong was transferred to Sreepur in Gazipur on February 3, 2025, and is accused of demanding substantial bribes by claiming Forest Department land for deeds.
According to department officials, over the past three months, 166 sub-registrars and 10 District Registrars have been transferred, with 85 transfers occurring in April alone. Due to the transfer business , instances have occurred where two individuals were transferred to the same post, and some transfer orders were canceled the very next day due to lobbying. Sources claim that a syndicate comprising two Law Ministry officials and two Registration Department officials is orchestrating this transfer trade. In February, 55 Sub-Registrars were transferred, 39 in March, and 85 in April.
For instance, Sub-Registrar Lutfor Rahman Mollah was recently transferred from Uttara to Jaldhaka in Nilphamari. Through lobbying, on April 9, he was reassigned to Sitakunda in Chattogram. Meanwhile, Raihan Habib, who was transferred to Sitakunda as Sub-Registrar just a year ago, was moved to Jamalpur. Subsequently, Raihan Habib’s transfer order to Sitakunda was canceled, as was the transfer order for the Jaldhaka Sub-Registrar. Similarly, Shahidul Islam, Sub-Registrar of Salikha in Magura, was transferred to Jhenaidah Sadar on April 9, but the order was suspended the next day. Abul Hossain, Sub-Registrar of Dhanmondi, was transferred to Chougachha in Jessore and, within a month, reassigned to Muksudpur in Gopalganj.
Sources alleged that the syndicate facilitates transfers to key offices in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, and Chattogram in exchange for hefty sums. For example, Sohel Rana from Burichong was transferred to Sreepur in Gazipur on February 3, 2025, and is accused of demanding substantial bribes by claiming Forest Department land for deeds.
Osman Gani Mondal, Sub-Registrar of Sreepur in Gazipur, was transferred to Pabna Sadar, only to be brought back to Kapasia in Gazipur 17 days later on February 20. Other transfers include Ramjibon Kundu from Boda in Panchagarh to Pirgacha in Rangpur, Arifur Rahman from Faridganj in Chandpur to Dhanmondi, Saddam Hossain Khan from Panchagarh to Mirpur in Dhaka, Abdul Qadir from Hajiganj in Chandpur to Mohammadpur in Dhaka, Zubayer Hossain from Shyamnagar in Satkhira to Kalampur in Dhaka, Md. Tahazzod Hossain from Sujanagar in Pabna to Kaliakair in Gazipur, and Md. Abdul Baten from Nawabganj to Gazipur Sadar as Sub-Registrar.
Allegations suggest that syndicate members secure these lucrative postings for significant payments. For instance, Asim Kallol, Sub-Registrar of Barisal Sadar, was transferred to Kathalia in Jhalakathi on April 9, but Rehana Parveen, Sub-Registrar of Rahmatpur in Barisal, was also transferred to the same office. After the issue became public, Rehana Parveen was reassigned to Muladi in Barisal. Similarly, Manisha Roy, Sub-Registrar of Haripur in Thakurgaon, was transferred to the less significant Hakimpur office in Dinajpur but was reassigned to Pirganj in Thakurgaon on February 25 before joining Hakimpur. Sanjay Acharya, Sub-Registrar of Chattogram Sadar, was transferred to Kumarkhali in Kushtia on February 3, but no transfer was arranged for Kumarkhali’s existing Sub-Registrar. After the matter surfaced, Sanjay Acharya was reassigned to Bheramara in Kushtia two days later.
Officials claimed that during the previous fascist government, officers who leveraged Awami League affiliations to exert influence continue to secure prime postings by managing the syndicate. Despite Subrata Kumar Singh’s two incarcerations, he was awarded a prize posting instead of punishment. Allegedly, he spent large sums to influence relevant parties, avoiding dismissal even after his imprisonment following the political changes on February 26, 2025. Despite widespread media coverage in national dailies, his non-suspension has sparked discontent among many, as government officials are typically sacked even for a single day in jail. This has also caused significant resentment among Registration Department officials.
When contacted, Subrata Kumar Singh, Sub-Registrar of Rangpur Sadar, dismissed the allegations as baseless and said he was ever in jail. When asked about media reports confirming his imprisonment, he declined to comment further.
Matiur Rahman, IRO (Rajshahi Division) of the Registration Department, stated that they were not informed of Subrata’s imprisonment. Since the department was not officially notified, he was not temporarily suspended.
When asked about the transfer trade allegations, Assistant Inspector General Md. Ashrafuzzaman of the Registration Department said, transfers are finalized by the Ministry. The department issues transfer or posting orders based on the Ministry’s directives.
Allegations suggest that syndicate members secure these lucrative postings for significant payments. For instance, Asim Kallol, Sub-Registrar of Barisal Sadar, was transferred to Kathalia in Jhalakathi on April 9, but Rehana Parveen, Sub-Registrar of Rahmatpur in Barisal, was also transferred to the same office. After the issue became public, Rehana Parveen was reassigned to Muladi in Barisal. Similarly, Manisha Roy, Sub-Registrar of Haripur in Thakurgaon, was transferred to the less significant Hakimpur office in Dinajpur but was reassigned to Pirganj in Thakurgaon on February 25 before joining Hakimpur. Sanjay Acharya, Sub-Registrar of Chattogram Sadar, was transferred to Kumarkhali in Kushtia on February 3, but no transfer was arranged for Kumarkhali’s existing Sub-Registrar. After the matter surfaced, Sanjay Acharya was reassigned to Bheramara in Kushtia two days later.
Officials claimed that during the previous fascist government, officers who leveraged Awami League affiliations to exert influence continue to secure prime postings by managing the syndicate. Despite Subrata Kumar Singh’s two incarcerations, he was awarded a prize posting instead of punishment. Allegedly, he spent large sums to influence relevant parties, avoiding dismissal even after his imprisonment following the political changes on February 26, 2025. Despite widespread media coverage in national dailies, his non-suspension has sparked discontent among many, as government officials are typically sacked even for a single day in jail. This has also caused significant resentment among Registration Department officials.
When contacted, Subrata Kumar Singh, Sub-Registrar of Rangpur Sadar, dismissed the allegations as baseless and said he was ever in jail. When asked about media reports confirming his imprisonment, he declined to comment further.
Matiur Rahman, IRO (Rajshahi Division) of the Registration Department, stated that they were not informed of Subrata’s imprisonment. Since the department was not officially notified, he was not temporarily suspended.
When asked about the transfer trade allegations, Assistant Inspector General Md. Ashrafuzzaman of the Registration Department said, transfers are finalized by the Ministry. The department issues transfer or posting orders based on the Ministry’s directives.
When asked if the Department submits proposals, he confirmed that proposals are sent as per regulations.
Regarding the existence of a syndicate involved in the transfer trade, he claimed to have no knowledge of such activities.
