SLC31-W2" // Steem Expedition, Hidden Gems and Local Secrets: History and Heritage

Hello friends, I hope you are all well. For the second week of the Steemit Challenge contest, I will be sharing my experience and a review of Hidden Gems and Local Secrets. I would like to thank the organizers of this challenge, and without further delay, I am starting my participation.

A visit to History and Heritage

I visited a government building, the Sitakunda Upazila Land Office. It is a government establishment where all land-related tasks for the people of Sitakunda Upazila, including land surveys, record updates, and mutations, are performed. Local people who own land frequently visit this place.

In accordance with the rules of all government offices in Bangladesh, activities here are conducted from Sunday to Thursday, and the office remains open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is located on the west side of the Sitakunda Upazila Complex, near the land survey section.

It is an old two-story building with a relatively large area. The highest-ranking officer here is the Magistrate, who delivers judgments and resolves cases related to land surveys. One can tell by looking at the structure that it is a typical government office.

Since the building is old, the paint has become quite faded. Usually, these types of government buildings are seen with faded paint due to a lack of maintenance. The entrance is at the front of the ground floor, and the chambers of junior officers are on the upper floor.

The land office building is entirely surrounded by a boundary wall, and the gate is a strong steel structure. On the wall outside the gate, the available services are painted in small letters, which catches everyone's eye upon entry.

The road connecting the highway to the land office is quite beautiful. During my recent visit, I observed this road closely; it is a shaded, peaceful, and lovely road. Although it isn't long, it feels very pleasant to travel along this path.

There is no interior design inside the building. Since it is a government office, the number of rooms exceeds the amount of open space because every room serves as a chamber for various high-ranking officers, each with different responsibilities. There are computer operators available for applications or document writing.

The most beautiful room inside is the Magistrate's room, which has a glass door and is equipped with modern amenities, including an AC. Entering this room is not easy, as there are many protocols to follow to get permission, and ordinary members of the public cannot just enter.

I liked the outdoor environment of the building more because the courtyard has many trees and seating arrangements. I noticed many large trees around the area, including coconut, mango, and banyan trees.

A cool atmosphere prevailed around the building due to the shade of the trees. On the easternmost side of the interior premises, there is a flower garden with various flowers and other beautiful plants, which I found very lovely.

People come here to solve their land survey-related problems. People have both good and bad experiences here because there are complaints from the public about having to visit multiple times for a single task, as work in government departments is very slow; additionally, there are complaints of other illegal activities.

1. Why is this place important to the history of your city or country?

This place is extremely important for the people of my town and Upazila. Those who own land or have inherited property through family lineages often have to come here. Moreover, since the price of land in our country has increased, many land-related disputes have arisen, which are resolved here as land documents are often years old and cases are settled here.

2. How is the site preserved today? Does it still fulfill its original function?

Currently, it is preserved under full government supervision. Yes, it still fulfills its primary purpose of resolving land survey-related issues. Often, if a case becomes too complex, it is transferred from the Upazila Land Office to the court via the ADC; however, the primary resolution for any land-related problem is handled here first.

3. How do you feel when you visit this place that represents the pride of your people?

Disappointment. I wouldn't call it a symbol of public pride because there are many allegations of irregularities. There is a government-fixed fee for solving any land-related problem that the general public can afford, but there are some corrupt officers who demand bribes in exchange for work. There are also instances where people submit their files for work but receive no updates for months.