BAGERHAT, May 23 (V7N)– The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) today raided the South Jiudhara Union Land Office in Morelganj, Bagerhat, seizing Tk 50,000 in cash amid allegations of corruption, irregularities, and bribery. Union Assistant Land Officer Gazi Shamim Ahsan has been summoned to the Bagerhat District ACC office to address accusations of illegally collecting excessive fees for land services.

A team led by ACC Bagerhat District Assistant Director Md. Saidur Rahman conducted a two-hour raid at the office around 2 PM on Wednesday. During the operation, after extensive interrogation, investigators initially confiscated Tk 50,000 in cash from a bag in an office room, suspecting it to be additional money collected by Gazi Shamim Ahsan from local taxpayers for land services, including name transfers.

During the raid, Nasir Hossain, a local landowner from Somaddarkhali village, complained that Union Tehsildar Gazi Shamim Ahsan had taken Tk 18,000 from him for land rent but issued a receipt for only Tk 370. Several other landowners voiced similar complaints.

Md. Saidur Rahman, ACC Bagerhat District Assistant Director and head of the operation, stated that the raid at Morelganj South Jiudhara Land Office was part of a nationwide initiative targeting union land offices, as per ACC instructions. He described the office as "the most corrupt," citing written complaints against Gazi Shamim Ahsan for collecting additional money for online land rent collection, land registration, and other land services beyond government-stipulated fees.

Rahman confirmed that the Tk 50,000 was seized from the land officer's bag. He added that the money found in Ahsan's possession cannot be spent until proper proof of its origin is provided following the ongoing investigation. Ahsan has been ordered to appear in person at the ACC district office and provide a written explanation regarding the various allegations of irregularities and corruption.

In response to the discovery of money in his office, Morelganj Upazila Union Land Officer Gazi Shamim Ahsan claimed the funds were from the sale of fish from his fishing enclosure.

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