The
three-month ban on Sundarbans waterways has lifted, but forest dwellers immediately
hit a bribe wall. Forest officials demanded Tk 800-1,000 per person, while the
official Boat License Certificate (BLC) renewal fee stands at just Tk 34.50.
According to
government accounts, the total revenue to be collected, including VAT, was only
Tk2,33,810. Yet, forest officials have pocketed at least Tk23.5 lakh as bribes
through brokers. Such a “bribe market” was set up in the Satkhira Range of th...
