Corruption in Land Management: A Major Impediment to Good Governance in Bangladesh

Good governance is well thought-out the corruption-free, transparent management that involves legitimacy, accountability and efficiency of the government. Despite ol a lot of foreign investments expected development had not been achieved in many countries including Bangladesh because of corruption. Corruption itselfa ruinous act that also makes somebody changes from moral to immoral notion and action. It contaminates individual, community and finally the nation and state. Land lIIanagement, the vital part of public administration of Bangladesh is ve,y much corrupt as it is related with revenue earnings of the government. High competition is also perceived to have a piece of land for food, shelter and survival of an agro-based household even. The corrupt public sectors, in fact, exploit and deprive both the people and government through ill management and illegal earnings. Corruption in {alld management creates a (at of problems in public administration like generation of 3 million land litigation and misappropriation of TIel 139.20 million per year. It is found that on average the parties involve in land litigation have to spend Tk 45,201 as bribe in addition to the legal cost of the litigation mediating process. It is disappointing that a poor landless has to pay Tk. 7,000-10,000 as bribe in 12-15 steps in the khas land settlement process. In addition to those the survey and settlement, record updating, registration etc. are the major fields of corruption that affect the governance of Bangladesh in a great extent. Finally, the political government has to pay for this poor management and services due to corruption in land management sector. In conclusion, the paper presents some suggestions like introduction of transparent, efficient and pro-poor land management system along with modern techniques ol preparation, updating and preservation of record of rights .