Importers and exporters are bound to pay Tk 47.5 lakh per day as bribe to officials and employees of Chittagong Customs House at different stages of customs procedures, a study of Transparency International Bangladesh said on Monday.
On the other hand, importers have to pay Tk 17.2 lakh per day as bribe to the officials of Citthagong Port Authority at different stages to release their imported goods to avoid harassment, the study on Automation of Export-Import Procedures in Chittagong Port and Chittagong Customs House said.
Feeder vessel operators are also bound to pay a significant amount of money ranging from Tk 500 to Tk 30,000 to customs, port and mercantile marine department officials for berthing the ships at port and taking different types of approval from the authorities.
At a press conference at BRAC Center Inn, the anti-corruption watch-dog said some 60-70 brokers, commonly known as Faltu or Badi Alam to the stakeholders, are involved in negotiations over the amount of bribe or illegal transactions on behalf of customs officials and traders.
The briefing was organised to reveal the findings of the study.
TIB alleged that customs officials were also generally dependent on the brokers to complete their regular activities and even brokers know the password of computers of the officials.
A section of traders is also involved in this illegal transaction to get unlawful benefit, it said.
CCH activities have been held hostage by these brokers, the report added.
‘Traders are bound to pay the money even though having valid documents in hand to avoid harassment,’ TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said at the briefing.
The incidence of bribery or illegal transactions happens in connivance with the brokers, a section of officials of the CCH and the Chittagong Port Authority and even some traders are also involved with these illegal transactions, he said.
Such illegal transactions hamper revenue collection and increase the price of products shifting the price-burden on consumers, he said.
He said that there should be one stop service under automation at CCH and Chittagong Port instead of several steps to complete export-import activities.
Currently, there are at least 17 steps in customs valuation including physical examination of products while traders have to overcome at least 16 steps to release their imported goods even after implementation of automation project.
Iftekharuzzaman alleged that authorities could not implement full automation though it was supposed to be completed.
They are intentionally continuing some manual systems in export-import procedures for getting unlawful benefits through irregularities and corruption, he said.
According to TIB findings, of Tk 47.5 lakh, importers have to pay Tk 36.5 lakh per day as bribe to the customs officials while exporters have to pay Tk 11 lakh to complete customs procedures.
TIB demanded exemplary punishment of those involved in irregularities and illegal transactions.
It also demanded that CCH and the port should be free from brokers to reduce corruption.
TIB also recommended for full implementation of automation in CCH and Chittagong port in a bid to minimise contacts between service providers and service seekers to reduce corruption.
TIB conducted the study during January, 2014 to June, 2014.
The study on automation in trading process at Chittagong port and customs house was conducted based on information provided by 100 officials, staff, exporters and importers of the port.
TIB trustee board member M Hafizuddin Khan and researchers Manjur-e-Khoda, Juliet Rossette, among others, were present at the press conference.
-With New Age input
