Panchagarh passport office, which is situated right next to the deputy commissioner’s building, has turned into a den of corruption.
Each applicant must pay at least Tk1,000 bribe to get a passport done at the passport office. Otherwise they are routinely harassed and their applications are delayed.
Applicants alleged that Al Amin, the night guard of the office, had been extorting money in the name of issuing passports quickly.
Finding no other alternatives, applicants submitted a written complaint against Al Amin to the Panchagarh deputy commissioner.
In the statement, applicants said Al Amin had been taking bribe by introducing himself as the outsourcing assistant of the office.
One such victim, Srikanta Barman of Boda upazila’s Benghari Bonogram union, said: “I submitted an application on March 24. Al Amin took Tk2,500 from me to prepare all the necessary papers, including the police verification.”
“However, when I went there on April 5, he again demanded Tk1,500 more,” he added.
Jasemin Akter of Mareya union and Sheuli Akter of Raseya union also made the same allegation.
“He asked money from me to prepare my papers. When I denied to pay, he tried to obstruct my application. So I had to pay the money but still I did not get any date for my passport delivery,” said Jasemin.
Al Amin took Tk1,000 from Jasemin on April 5 and Tk2,500 from Sheuli on March 30.
Panchargarh police was informed of the written complaint on April 5 and a team led by Sub-Inspector Aminul Haq visited the passport office.
Assistant Director of the passport office Md Abdul Mottaleb acknowledged the written complaint and said he would take action against Al Amin.
When contacted, accused Al Amin said all the officials of the passport office would get a portion of the bribe money and urged to take action against all.
