Traders forced to pay Tk 64.7 lakh bribe a day: TIB

Men tends to unloading of sacks full of wheat from the cargo haul of a ship in the Chittagong port in Chittagong, Bangladesh. February 12, 2009. Photo: Getty Images

Exporters and importers have to pay Tk 47.5 lakh in bribe at the Chittagong customs house a day to complete customs-related formalities, according to a study of Transparency International Bangladesh.

In addition, the importers have to bribe officials and employees Tk 17.2 lakh to clear their goods from the port even despite having valid documents in support of the items.

The bribe money has to be paid to the brokers of the port and customs house at different stages of the process, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said while unveiling a study report at Brac Inn in the capital today.

According to the study, 60 to 70 brokers are involved in taking bribes in connivance with some officials at the port and customs house.

The brokers, known as faltu (bogus), should be ousted immediately, the TIB official said.

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 researcher Manjur-e-Khoda were, among others, present at the occasion.