Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday said the initiative to transfer sub-registrars through a lottery system has been taken to break syndicates operating in offices that have a negative public perception regarding corruption.
“There is a negative perception about sub-registrar offices among people. We have taken this initiative to break the syndicates,” he said while responding to questions from reporters at a programme on the lottery-based transfer of sub-registrars at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
He said the government cannot change everything overnight from a negative situation and has to start somewhere.
“Dhaka city is considered the most sought-after posting. As part of that starting process, we are holding the first lottery for these coveted postings,” he said.
Asaduzzaman said 18 sub-registrars were selected through the lottery from among 131 Category-A sub-registrars across the country.
He said the selected officials would be posted to different areas.
Responding to criticism of the lottery process, the minister said skilled officials are needed in Dhaka.
However, responsibilities would be assigned to the officials selected through the lottery after considering their competence.
Asked whether the lottery-based transfer system would be introduced elsewhere, he said recruitment cannot be conducted through a lottery, but the system would be gradually followed for postings.
“This process is aimed at breaking the syndicates in places that we believe, based on public perception, are hubs of corruption,” he said.
Asked whether the initiative would help reduce corruption, Asaduzzaman said, “Of course, we are hopeful.”
Regarding the tenure of sub-registrars, he said they generally have a provision to serve for two years, but an official would not be retained if they became involved in corruption after taking charge.
Asked about the total number of sub-registrars currently working across the country, the minister said 372 are currently in service, while 139 posts remained vacant.
The minister also said the ministry has seriously reviewed media reports alleging corruption involving sub-registrars.
“Every news published in media regarding corruption by sub-registrars, invariably, we have sought explanations and conducted investigations in our own way,” he said.
However, he said none of the allegations could so far be considered conclusively proven due to a lack of specific evidence.