Although underhand dealings at Chittagong seaport seem to have ceased in the changed scenario, bribery still continues stealthily despite strict monitoring under the current anti-graft drive, says a private probe report. According to a latest investigation by the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB), in the first few months of 2007, about Tk 300 crore has been transacted in bribe while this amount was Tk 943.48 crore in 2006. TIB yesterday released its findings at a roundtable in the conference room of Chittagong Chamber. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Lt General (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury, who was present at the function, urged the government to go for tough action against the corrupt practices and irregularities.
TIB Trustee Board Treasurer M Hafiz Uddinm Khan presided over the discussion. "Bribing is not taking place openly, but it is very much taking place in secret through the agents of the corrupt officials... Even in many cases, the rate of bribe has increased. Both the importers and exporters are forced to bribe the port officials," the TIB investigation report revealed.