The employees of the Rajshahi divisional office of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) are allegedly involved in different types of irregularities, causing miseries for service holders.
When this correspondent talked to several clients, they alleged that they had to face barriers at every step to get services, as most of the BRTA employees were corrupt.
They said a few officials harassed them as well as misbehaved with them, if service holders refused to provide them with additional money.
A client seeking anonymity said: “When we do not provide them with bribes, they say nothing, but our works are delayed.”
The officials who are mainly involved in rendering services such as renewing fitness certificates and issuing driver's license are involved in corruption.
Saikat Mahmud, a truck driver, said he had been wandering around the BRTA office for the last two weeks, but his works were yet to be completed.”
“The officials concerned willingly delayed the service to get bribes, and if I give them some extra money, my job will be done quickly," Mahmud said.
A motorbike driver, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “I lost my vehicle registration card. I applied for a duplicate certified copy of the registration 15 days ago, but have yet to receive it.
“Some people have already given me hints that my work will be done within a short time.”
Abdus Salam, a microbus driver, said: “An official unnecessarily wanted to check out my driving licence and said my license is fake. Then, another official came forward and asked me to give him Tk100 to fix the matter.”
An official, wishing anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that a few dishonest people used to harass service holders just to pocket money, as the matter was totally unknown to the senior authorities.
“Anomalies at the BRTA office go unabated because the service holders avoid complaining to senior authorities in fear of delays in getting services.”
Md Sadekul Islam, assistant director (engineer) of Rajshahi BRTA office, told the Dhaka Tribune that a digital mechanism was available at the BRTA office to inspect the authenticity of a digital license card, with no fees, and that it would be done within a second, adding no scope of manual scrutiny.
He, however, urged clients to submit complaints to him, adding that he would oust them at once if any allegations of taking bribery was proved against any employee.
“We have directed officials to render services to the service holders within an articulated time with no unexpected delay," he said.