The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) identified as many as 14 sources of corruption at the land ports across the country and placed a 28-point recommendation to check the graft. ACC Commissioner Dr Mozammel Haque handed over a report in this regard to State Minister for Shipping Minister Khalid Manhmud Chowdhury at the Secretariat yesterday.
The graft watchdog formed as many as 25 separate teams to prepare the report. Citing the preparation of reports as part of ACC’s preventive measures, Mozammel said that it has submitted investigative reports on corruption in as many as 16 ministries so far. Elaborating the sources of corruption at the land ports, the ACC official said it is a common allegation that imported goods are released without taking the tariff.
The report said, almost all ports face lack of sufficient security measures. Maximising the opportunity, dishonest officials release the goods without realising the import duty. “We have received complaint that works are done only in papers and unqualified contractors get the deeds,” said Mozammel.
He went on saying sources of the port customs offices and traders often complained on stolen goods in addition to the allegation of tender manipulation and irregularities in staff recruitment and promotion. According to the report, outsourcing the port staff causes irregularities in recruitment. Due to lack of supervision and transparency, payment is also made in favor of the workers even though they became absent in the work.
A strong syndicate comprised off dishonest port staff is active and they are involved with stealing the goods from the ports’ warehouses, it said. Rules and regulations are not properly followed to appoint the qualified contractors in handling the goods. Sometimes customs officials hurriedly released imported goods without checking documents properly encouraging traders to involve in corruption.
The ACC report said that port authorities tended to avoid calling the competitive prices and provided work orders in exchange of financial gains. Nepotism is rampant in recruitment, promotion and sending officials for training abroad while employees’ unions and CBA do not carry out their responsibility and maintain link to smuggling syndicates.
Port officials outsource human resources for official activities and even demand bribes in exchange of offering services. The ACC also made a set of recommendation to combat the corruption at the land ports. Introduction of automation goods handling system, formation of joint vigilance teams, cooperation and information sharing between customs intelligence and law agencies, and set up of separate monitoring cell for security and other operational activities are among the recommendation made by the graft watchdog.
The ACC advised for departmental and legal measures against the stealing gang and immediate action against the port staff once someone face an allegation of corruption. Use of e-Government Procurement (e-GP) and strengthening monitoring system in realising tariff can curb the corruption, said the ACC report.
Allocation of sufficient budget and recruitment of adequate human resource for the Bangladesh Land Port Authority is essential to continue the fight against corruption. The graft watchdog also recommended deploying a mobile court at Benapole Land Port in addition to arrangement of accommodation for the port officials at all land ports across the country.
ACC official Mozammel said that curbing corruption is possible if the ministry strengthens vigilance at the land ports. Today’s report is a signal to the corrupt people, he warned. Praising the ACC’s move, Minister Khalid said they have taken the issues seriously. “Bundling a Bangladesh free from corruption is our challenge. Action will be taken after looking into the matter,” he assured.
