Ten deed writers in Chakaria lose their licences over forged deeds and fake receipts

A deed writer's profession runs on a government licence; if the licence goes, the whole source of income is closed. According to a July 2024 report in Dainik Azadi, several deed writers at the Chakaria sub-registrar's office in Cox's Bazar faced allegations of forging licences, making forged deeds, supplying fake land-tax receipts from the land office and making counterfeit seals. On 26 June the district registrar ordered action. Then, by an office order of the sub-registrar, the licences of 10 people were cancelled for serious professional misconduct under rule 12 of the Deed Writers (Licence) Rules 2014. Some of their licences dated from 2004 and some from 2018 — meaning some had been in this profession for nearly two decades. The order also barred them from entering the office premises, and asked the public not to have deeds drafted by them. The report also said that, according to those concerned, several more deed writers of the same kind were still active. However easy the income from deed writing may seem, it depends entirely on the permission of the registration office; if one allegation is proved, many years of business can close in a single day.