Open Corruption At Benapole
By HUMAYUN KABIR BHUIYAN
How many are you? a policeman in civilian clothes asked as I, along with my wife and 15-year-old son, recently entered Bangladesh from the Indian side at the Benapole-Petrapole check post, the one most used by the people of both countries.
We are three, I answered.
Oh, threeWhy should you wait in the queue for a long time to complete immigration formalities? Give me some money. I will get it done within minutes, he said, much to our bemusement.
How can you ask money like this for something that is your job? I asked.
Then go away! replied the man, in a very rude manner.
At that point, I introduced myself and protested against such rude behaviour of the man, who became silent after that.
Another policeman, who was apparently apologetic, took us away from there and put us back in the queue.
Brother, you understand these things. He is also a policeman. Thats why I did not say anything to you, he said.
While in the long queue, we could see some police personnel approaching people with the same offer openly, in a casual manner, as if it were normal.
Those who agreed to pay money went with them and got the job done within minutes, while those who refused to pay the bribe had to wait quite a while to get their passports stamped and customs cleared.
Apart from me, some other guys in the queue also raised their voice against this open corruption, but the policemen were unstoppable.
Dont you think you are doing something illegal and it is corruption? I asked a policeman, whose badge showed the name Arun.
The gentleman did not respond to my query, rather, he became busy with picking other people to provide the service which an international traveller is entitled to.
Arun, however, responded to another person, saying: It is normal here. What is the point of making a hue and cry about it?
Speaking to several people who regularly use this check post, I learned that there are very few instances of such corruption on the Indian side, but this malpractice is quite rampant on our side.
Personnel of police, immigration and customs are all together in this, they said.
And you know what happens when you argue with a policeman, said a man in his 40s from Chittagong.
It is only possible in our country where policemen can take bribe so openly, without any sense of guilt or remorse, said another gentleman.
Interestingly enough, among the policemen who were engaged in these illegal activities, some of them were not wearing their name badges. These police personnel were being aided by some members of the public who should not have been there.
When asked, a policeman, without a badge showing his name, refused to provide an answer.
When I approached another policeman, named Ashish, he kept mum about what they were doing. However, he was kind enough to provide the name of the officer-in-charge (OC) of the check post, but the officer was not found in his room.
To a question, a policeman without a badge answered: You have, brother, perhaps forgotten that you live in Bangladesh.
Can you show me a single place where corruption does not take place? he posed a counter question.
When contacted, Morshed Alam, OC of the Benapole check post, said: There has been huge pressure for the last few days. Therefore, I could not look into everything. What you have said should not have happened. I will look into it.
Despite repeated attempts, director general of the Department of Immigration and Passports Major General M Masud Rezwan and Jessore superintendent of police could not be reached for their comments.
The writer is Special Correspondent of The Independent newspaper.
Photos: Internet
