Bribery against Chattogram Railway Estate Officer alleged
MR Amin, Chattogram
Serious allegations have surfaced against the Chattogram Railway Divisional Estate Officer, accusing him of taking bribes in the approval and transfer process of land-related documents.
It is alleged that, through an office syndicate, applicants are asked to pay bribes ranging from several thousand to several hundred thousand taka.
According to reliable sources, if bribes are not paid, files are kept pending for months or returned without valid reason. Victims say that paying bribes to get work done quickly has now become an “open secret.”
There are also allegations that Dipankar Tonchongya, Divisional Estate Officer of Chattogram Division, accepted a bribe of Tk 80,000 for the eviction of illegal structures built by encroachers on Bangladesh Railway’s Eastern Zone land. Recently, railway cleaner Sushil Debnath lodged a written complaint with the General Manager (GM) and the Chief Estate Officer (CEO) of the Eastern Zone regarding the matter.
According to the written complaint, railway cleaner Sushil Debnath has been living with his family in his government-allotted house on Lane No. 7 of Wallace Colony. A number of illegal occupiers have not only grabbed various areas of the locality but also taken over the land adjacent to his house, even blocking his front door, making movement difficult.
In 2021, to have the illegal structure adjacent to his home removed, Debnath approached the then Divisional Estate Officer, Mahbub Karim (currently Chief Estate Officer, Eastern Zone), several times. Although an eviction notice was issued at the time, it was not implemented due to the transfer of the DEO.
After a long vacancy in the magistrate’s post, Dipankar Tonchongya was appointed as Divisional Estate Officer. Debnath again contacted him regarding eviction. The DEO instructed the office’s Amin (land surveyor) Abdus Salam and Kanungo Manirul Islam to conduct a site inspection and submit a report. On 13 May last year, they submitted their investigation report. When Debnath later followed up, the DEO allegedly demanded money for “expenses,” saying that without payment, the eviction could not proceed—just as it hadn’t before.
The DEO allegedly demanded Tk 50,000, citing costs for hiring labour, police, RNB, and other staff for the eviction. After receiving Tk 50,000 in the first instalment, on 28 May last year, the DEO issued a hearing notice to both the illegal occupier and the complainant. While Debnath attended the hearing, the illegal occupier, Shabana Akhter, did not.
Later, on 24 September of the same year, a notice was again issued for the eviction programme. However, the eviction was not carried out, and the DEO allegedly demanded another Tk 30,000, which he received as a bribe. On 4 December last year, another notice was issued, and although the DEO visited the site, no eviction was conducted, and he returned without taking action.
Complainant Sushil Debnath said, the illegal occupiers have blocked my front door. Since moving here, I have tried many times through the estate office to have them evicted. When Mahbub-ul Karim sir was the DEO, I tried as well, but nothing worked. Eventually, I had no choice but to pay bribes, even though it was very difficult for me. But taking money and still not doing the work—I cannot accept that. Now, if I call the DEO sir, he doesn’t pick up, doesn’t talk to me. If they’re not going to do the work, they should at least return my money, but they won’t. That’s why I was forced to submit a written complaint.
When asked for comment, Chattogram Divisional Estate Officer Dipankar Tonchongya declined to make any statement.
Several calls were made to Eastern Zone Chief Estate Officer Mahbub-ul Karim, but he could not be reached for comment.
Railway authorities have stated that an investigation into the allegations will be launched and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
