DHAKA: Officials at almost all the passport offices across the country are immersed in corruption. Many of officials hardly come to office as per the attendance book. The brokers are to run the offices.

Besides, extra money ranging from Tk 500 to 4,000 is being realized for issuing each passport. 

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found the scenario during drives carried out simultaneously at different passport offices in seven districts on Thursday (Feb 7), said ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.

The anti-graft watchdog also detained four fraudsters of organised broker syndicate from the passport offices in Meherpur, Munshignj, Cumilla and Dinajpur.

Later, they were handed over to mobile court of districts administration concerned. They were handed down different terms of jail and fined. 

As per directives of ACC Director General (admin) Muhammad Munir Chowdhury, seven-powerful enforcement team carried out drives simultaneously at passport office in Munshiganj, Cumilla, Tangail, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Barishal and Meherpur.

Regarding the drives, ACC DG Muhammad Munir Chowdhury, also chief of the ACC Enforcement Unit said the ACC carried out the drives in a bid to stop corruption and harassment at the passport office. Based on the evidence of corruption, the ACC will take legal action against the people concerned.

During drive in Munshiganj, the anti-graft watchdog found that Halima Khatun, assistant director of the passport office, does not verify the attendance book of the office for last one month.

In Sylhet, the brokers’ syndicates have got an institutional shape with the nexus between officials of passport office and officials of different travel agencies.  

In Tangail, the ACC team found that money ranging from Tk 500 to 2,500 is being realized for issuing each passport as addition charge.

At Barishal passport office, they saw that “policemen in the guise of brokers” are taking money from people.

BDST: 1943 HRS, FEB 7, 2019
RS/SMS