Customs officials accused of demanding Tk 20,000 bribe to release parcel at postal department
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Customs officials at the Foreign Post Office have been accused of demanding bribes, intimidating customers and imposing unreasonable taxes. Victims recently submitted written complaints to the Deputy Postmaster General (Foreign Post, Dhaka), seeking justice, an impartial investigation and the release of parcels without harassment. The Postal Department has forwarded the complaints to the Customs Department and the higher authorities.
According to the complaint letters, Mahfuz Ahmed, a driver from Beanibazar, went to send a parcel to the United States on July 14. At that time, Higher Grade Assistant Sabuj and Assistant Revenue Officer Mehedi allegedly demanded a Tk 20,000 bribe from him. After he refused to pay the bribe and reported the matter to a senior official, the parcel was accepted. However, the victim, Mahfuz, claimed that he has been receiving regular threats to keep the matter confidential ever since.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Talha Noor, proprietor of Bismillah Auto Center, alleged that Customs imposed a 96 percent tax on a parcel containing a car key and owner’s manual sent from Japan. Expressing his frustration, he said, “It is completely unreasonable to impose a second tax on the key and manual of a vehicle for which a 200 percent tax has already been paid.”
However, Higher Grade Assistant Sabuj and Assistant Revenue Officer Mehedi denied the allegations of demanding bribes and harassment. According to them, the matter involving the parcel containing the car key and owner’s manual is currently awaiting a hearing before Tania Alam, Assistant Commissioner of the ICD Revenue Division.
When asked about the matter, Revenue Officer Abul Fayez Chowdhury advised contacting the higher authorities.
Deputy Postmaster General Shahnaz Siddiqui acknowledged receiving the two written complaints. She told Agamir Somoy, “We have received written complaints alleging that some officials and employees of the Revenue Department demanded bribes and engaged in corruption. We have already sent letters to the relevant higher authorities and the Revenue Department to take action on the matter.”
