Fight over bribe money at Savar municipality goes viral

A video of two officials of Savar Municipality fighting over an alleged bribe of Tk 5,000 linked to a pending file has gone viral.

A three-member probe committee has been formed to investigate the matter, said Abu Bakar Sarkar, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and also the municipal administrator.

The committee, led by municipal executive officer Saidul Islam, has been asked to submit its report within seven working days, the UNO told reporters.

The brawl broke out between two officials, Nazmul Hasan and Nazrul Islam, at the municipality office on Wednesday noon.

Sources said that in June, a resident of Dakshin Dariapur submitted an application to change the ownership of a holding in the municipal records.

The tax official, Nazrul Islam, allegedly took Tk 5,000 from the applicant but issued a receipt for only Tk 1,150 and left the file pending for months.

On Wednesday, another tax official-- Nazmul Hasan reportedly questioned Nazrul about the pending file and the alleged payment. The argument soon escalated into a physical fight.

Assistant Revenue Assessor Tandra Yasmin, who witnessed the altercation, said, “Nazmul bhai and Nazrul bhai had a heated argument around noon. Then both got agitated and got into a scuffle. It all started over a file.” She, however, denied that the fight was linked to any bribe.

Nazmul Hasan, on the other hand, accused Nazrul of initiating the violence. “He punched me when I asked about the file. He took Tk 5,000 but issued a receipt for only Tk 1,150,” Hasan claimed.

Nazrul Islam, however, denied the allegations, saying, “This was just a misunderstanding between us. There was no fight.”

Despite his denial, a video of the altercation has gone viral on social media.

“The investigation report will determine the next steps, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings,” said UNO and municipal administrator Abu Bakar Sarkar.