‘Come to my office’

They have been waiting for several years to change the ownership of their vehicles. Some of them are told by BRTA officials that their “documents are missing” while others are caught up in red tape.

When the vehicle owners were talking about their sufferings at a public hearing in the city yesterday, BRTA officials assured them of resolving the problems within a day.

The Anti-Corruption Commission organised the hearing at the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salah Uddin of Dhaka moderated the event.

Abdullah Al Faisal from Shewrapara said he bought a motorbike from a seller in December 2014 and applied to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) within a week for changing the ownership. Later, he was told that his documents were “missing”.

“Just five days ago, I gave Tk 500 to one Arif and he traced the file straight away,” he said.

Faisal could not confirm the designation of Arif, a BRTA staff member.

ATM Jamaluddin, assistant director of BRTA, asked Faisal to visit his office today for having his job done by the end of the day.

BRTA officials said it took them a maximum of 30 working days to change the ownership of a vehicle.

KM Afzal bought a car from a seller in April 2010 and applied to BRTA that month for changing the ownership, but the job is still pending.

He complained that due to the inordinate delay, he will have to pay more money now for the job as the charges for changing ownership have been hiked.

BRTA Deputy Director Masud Alam claimed the job was delayed as the ACC sought information about the particular car.

Some 20 people described how they were harassed by BRTA staff for having retro-reflective registration number plates, driving licences and fitness certificates. Brokers in connivance with some BRTA officials add to their sufferings, they complained.

The Dhaka DC asked the BRTA officials to take necessary steps to end the harassment of people.

BRTA Chairman Nazrul Islam said he would take necessary measures to reduce people's sufferings.

“Of course the brokers work in complicity with some unscrupulous BRTA officials. Otherwise they would not have been able to work.”

Action will be taken against the wrongdoers, he added.

ACC Commissioner Nasiruddin Ahmed said many government offices had been failing to provide services to people which became evident during several hearings organised by the anti-graft watchdog.