Md. Osman Gani , Upazila Correspondent, Chandina || The residents of Chandina Upazila in Cumilla are reportedly facing extreme hardship due to widespread corruption and irregularities within the Upazila Land Office. From the payment of land taxes to the processing of land mutations (Namjari), allegations of bribery have surfaced at every stage. Local citizens claim that no work is processed in this office without the involvement of middlemen, and any file lacking a "contractual sign" from these brokers is frequently rejected under various pretexts, leading to significant financial loss and mental harassment for the general public.According to government regulations, the land mutation process is supposed to be a systematic digital flow where an online application is verified by the Union Assistant Land Officer, investigated by the Surveyor for physical possession, and finally approved by the Assistant Commissioner (Land) after a hearing. However, investigations reveal that in practice, files do not move from one desk to another without the exchange of illicit money. Sources suggest that as soon as an application reaches the Union Land Office, officials demand a hard copy and check if it is brought by a designated broker. If not, a direct contract is negotiated with the applicant. Once a deal is finalized, a specific coded mark is placed on the file, which serves as a signal for other officials to proceed. It is further alleged that these "marked" files are tracked weekly to distribute the collected bribe money among the involved staff.Serious allegations have also been raised against the Assistant Commissioner (Land), Faisal Al Noor. Local sources claim that every evening, after regular office hours, meetings are held with Union Land Officers and specific brokers until late at night to settle the financial accounts of the contracted files before granting final approval. Victims have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences; for instance, Abdul Haque from Harong village reported paying 150,000 BDT to secure a mutation for a relative, while a college professor, requesting anonymity, stated he was forced to pay 200,000 BDT after his valid application was repeatedly rejected. Similarly, Abdul Ali Khondoker of Kaliarchor village saw his application rejected twice despite having all correct documents, simply because he refused to enter into a bribery contract with the local Tahsildar.When confronted with these grave allegations, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Faisal Al Noor dismissed the claims as baseless and purposefully motivated. He challenged the accusations by asking if there was any video evidence of him accepting bribes, stating that it is only natural for someone to have proof if they have indeed paid a bribe. Despite his denial, the mounting complaints from various sectors of society have led to a widespread demand for a high-level investigation into the daily operations of the Chandina Land Office to restore transparency and end the culture of harassment.