Businesses have to pay bribes at each stage of service delivery at Mongla and Burimari ports, according to a research study done by the Bangladesh chapter of an international anti-corruption watchdog.
The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has showed evidence of such corruption at the ports in its latest findings revealed on Sunday.
From employees to officers of port and customs offices and even transport workers' union are found engaged in such evil practices, it said.
Despite having automation and one-stop service at the ports, people involved in the delivery of services 'intentionally' keep an ecosystem of bribery alive.
Khurshed Alam of the TIB shared the results of the research done from July 2017 to September 2018.
Businesses bribed Tk 203 million in getting 36 types of services from Mongla seaport in fiscal year 2016-2017, he said.
Of the amount, Mr Alam said, around Tk 157 million was paid to receive customs-related services.
Documents for imported products and exported items have been scrutinised in 18 and 12 stages respectively and the files moved one table to another manually.
"It creates scope for corruption, the delayed release of goods and harassment," the TIB official said.
On Burimari port, Manzoor E Khoda of the private rating agency said bribes and extortion there caused harassment to businesses and a price hike of products.
Importers and exporters paid at least Tk 26 million in bribes to seek services from the customs station and Tk 4.8 million to the port office, he stated.
Mr Khoda said transport union also extorted Tk 900 per truck that was estimated at Tk 54 million annually.
"No truck is available without the help of brokers who take a minimum Tk 400 bribe per truck," he mentioned.
TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said progress is made in few areas in the ports and customs offices.
"But corruption still exists at each stage of service delivery and these illegal practices are getting institutionalised, which is unfortunate," he observed.
Mr Zaman said corruption also thrives for inadequate infrastructure.
Citing Mongla's example, he said the customs office is 53 kilometres off the port and it is creating scope for corruption and a waste of time.
Digitisation helps lessen scope for corruption everywhere, but things look different here, the TIB executive opined.
"Automation is being done here with no effective use. It seems service deliverers intentionally skip the tool to keep the door of corruption open," he remarked.
Mr Zaman blamed a nexus of interests between officers, employees and brokers behind this embedded corruption.
The local chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International made an eight-point suggestion to improve the situation and ensure governance in the ports.
The suggestions include the release of an annual wealth statement of officers and employees working in key economic installations, scrutiny of the papers and take legal action against corrupt individuals.
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