Harassment of passengers at Benapole identified
Doulot Akter Mala | Friday, 8 April 2011
Doulot Akter Mala
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) has identified irregularities and harassment of passengers, especially those from India and other countries, at the immigration and customs points of the country's largest land port at Benapole. The agency said passengers at the port have to face immense harassment while completing immigration and customs formalities. The headquarters (HQ) of the DGFI has sent a report with three-point recommendations on addressing the problems at the Benapole port. The HQ has sent the report to the finance and home ministries for necessary action. The report, signed by Brigadier-General Md Akbar Hossain on behalf of the Director General, recommended that the government devise its work plan with a 'diplomatic-level discussion' with its Indian counterparts to simplify the clearance system at the port. The intelligence agency recommended that the government complete immigration and customs formalities in coordination with honest and skilled officers. It also urged the government to appoint young and skilled officials at the port replacing aged constables and sub-inspectors. The agency has suggested the relevant authorities to improve and modernise the port management system to reduce irregularities. It blamed that a section of immigration officials is charging additional money for issuing clearance from the ports. Especially, passengers of the direct transports go through hassles and unusual delay. "The passengers of the direct buses have to stand on long queues while passengers of other transports get easy clearances in connivance with the corrupt officials," the intelligence report said. The intelligence agency also observed that some middlemen at makeshift shops have been harassing the passengers by taking Tk 100 from each of them in the name of expediting clearance from the port. It said the passengers have to wait for three to four hours to complete all customs formalities and fixation of payable taxes on the products which are excluded from the baggage rule. The intelligence report urged the authorities concerned to address these issues immediately to maintain bilateral relations with India.
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) has identified irregularities and harassment of passengers, especially those from India and other countries, at the immigration and customs points of the country's largest land port at Benapole. The agency said passengers at the port have to face immense harassment while completing immigration and customs formalities. The headquarters (HQ) of the DGFI has sent a report with three-point recommendations on addressing the problems at the Benapole port. The HQ has sent the report to the finance and home ministries for necessary action. The report, signed by Brigadier-General Md Akbar Hossain on behalf of the Director General, recommended that the government devise its work plan with a 'diplomatic-level discussion' with its Indian counterparts to simplify the clearance system at the port. The intelligence agency recommended that the government complete immigration and customs formalities in coordination with honest and skilled officers. It also urged the government to appoint young and skilled officials at the port replacing aged constables and sub-inspectors. The agency has suggested the relevant authorities to improve and modernise the port management system to reduce irregularities. It blamed that a section of immigration officials is charging additional money for issuing clearance from the ports. Especially, passengers of the direct transports go through hassles and unusual delay. "The passengers of the direct buses have to stand on long queues while passengers of other transports get easy clearances in connivance with the corrupt officials," the intelligence report said. The intelligence agency also observed that some middlemen at makeshift shops have been harassing the passengers by taking Tk 100 from each of them in the name of expediting clearance from the port. It said the passengers have to wait for three to four hours to complete all customs formalities and fixation of payable taxes on the products which are excluded from the baggage rule. The intelligence report urged the authorities concerned to address these issues immediately to maintain bilateral relations with India.