ACC drive to rid passport offices of graft

The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC), acting on a tip-off, yesterday conducted operations at the passport offices in seven districts. It has been alleged that brokers are running syndicates at those offices. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, public relations officer of the ACC, told The Independent: “The ACC has information that brokers, in collusion with officials and employees of the passport offices, are running syndicates through bribery and corruption.” Seven enforcement teams was formed to carry out the drives in Dinajpur, Barisal, Cumilla, Tangail, Sylhet, Meherpur and Munshiganj districts.

During the drives, the ACC arrested four brokers in Meherpur, Munshiganj, Cumilla and Dinajpur. They were handed over to the mobile courts concerned of the district administrations. The courts handed down jail terms to them and accordingly fined them.

During the operation in Munshiganj, the ACC found that Halima Khatun, assistant director of the passport office, had not checked the attendance register for a month. Besides, people have to cough up extra Tk. 1,500 as the charge for a general passport and Tk. 4,000 for an emergency passport.

It has been alleged that if anyone refuses to pay, passport officials deliberately harass him/her by pointing out some mistakes on the application forms.

During the operation conducted at the Sylhet Passport Office, the ACC found various travel agencies have institutionalised brokers' groups with the help of passport officials.

The ACC team has found that brokers at the Tangail Passport Office collect bribes from the applicants and also demand from Tk. 500 to Tk. 25,000 as bribe.

In Barishal, ACC officials found that police officials are in cahoots with brokers and demand bribe from the passport applicants.

Besides, four officials were found absent from the Cumilla Passport Office.

Md Munir Chowdhury, chief and director general (Administration) of the Enforcement Unit, said the ACC conducted the drive to stop corruption and harassment of passport applicants.

The ACC will take appropriate action against those involved in graft and corruption, he added.

ACC drive to rid passport offices of graft

The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC), acting on a tip-off, yesterday conducted operations at the passport offices in seven districts. It has been alleged that brokers are running syndicates at those offices. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, public relations officer of the ACC, told The Independent: The ACC has information that brokers, in collusion with officials and employees of the passport offices, are running syndicates through bribery and corruption. Seven enforcement teams was formed to carry out the drives in Dinajpur, Barisal, Cumilla, Tangail, Sylhet, Meherpur and Munshiganj districts. During the drives, the ACC arrested four brokers in Meherpur, Munshiganj, Cumilla and Dinajpur. They were handed over to the mobile courts concerned of the district administrations. The courts handed down jail terms to them and accordingly fined them. During the operation in Munshiganj, the ACC found that Halima Khatun, assistant director of the passport office, had not checked the attendance register for a month. Besides, people have to cough up extra Tk. 1,500 as the charge for a general passport and Tk. 4,000 for an emergency passport. It has been alleged that if anyone refuses to pay, passport officials deliberately harass him/her by pointing out some mistakes on the application forms. During the operation conducted at the Sylhet Passport Office, the ACC found various travel agencies have institutionalised brokers groups with the help of passport officials. The ACC team has found that brokers at the Tangail Passport Office collect bribes from the applicants and also demand from Tk. 500 to Tk. 25,000 as bribe. In Barishal, ACC officials found that police officials are in cahoots with brokers and demand bribe from the passport applicants. Besides, four officials were found absent from the Cumilla Passport Office. Md Munir Chowdhury, chief and director general (Administration) of the Enforcement Unit, said the ACC conducted the drive to stop corruption and harassment of passport applicants. The ACC will take appropriate action against those involved in graft and corruption, he added.