Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday said the government has introduced a lottery-based transfer system for sub-registrars to break syndicates operating in offices that have a negative public perception over 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 reporters at a programme on the lottery-based transfer of sub-registrars at the Secretariat.

The minister said the government could not change the situation overnight and had 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.

Eighteen sub-registrars were selected through the lottery from among 131 Category-A sub-registrars across the country, Asaduzzaman said. The selected officials will be posted to different areas.

Responding to criticism of the lottery system, he said skilled officials were needed in Dhaka, but responsibilities would be assigned to those selected based on their competence.

Asked whether the lottery-based system would be introduced elsewhere, the minister said recruitment could not be conducted through a lottery, but the system would gradually be used 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.”

He said sub-registrars 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.

There are currently 372 sub-registrars serving across the country, while 139 posts remain vacant, the minister said.

Asaduzzaman also said the ministry had taken media reports alleging corruption involving sub-registrars seriously.

“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.