Md. Kamal Hossain, Benapole (Jashore) Correspondent: A stir has started after various newspapers and online media published news about Benapole Customs House's Revenue Officer Solaiman Shahed's intimidation of importer representatives and extortion of bribes for a few days. Local journalists have alleged that an influential party has taken the field desperately to control journalists due to the publication of this much-discussed news in Benapole.
It has been alleged that a group of customs beneficiaries tried to withdraw the report published by Revenue Officer Solaiman Shahed throughout the day on Tuesday by financially tempting, pressuring and intimidating journalists.
A local newspaper journalist, who did not wish to be named, said that he had to face various harassments throughout the day after the news of bribery against customs official Solaiman Shahed was published. He was also pressured to delete the online news and protest the print report, calling it a "lie." In his words, "If the voices of journalists are suppressed in this way, it will become impossible for journalists to expose irregularities and corruption in society."
According to reports published in various newspapers, there have been multiple allegations of bribery from importer representatives against revenue officer Solaiman Shahed. A representative of local businessman Bakul organization also said on condition of anonymity that bribes ranging from a minimum of 3,000 taka to 20,000 taka to 200,000 taka depending on the type of product were demanded and taken to release a single shipment. They were threatened with lab tests; pressured to waste unnecessary time.
The accused officer Solaiman Shahed, however, denied all the allegations. However, when inquired throughout the station, various allegations of harassment of importer representatives were found. Some representatives claimed that he would not sign the file unless he paid the bribe. If the money he demanded was not paid, the products were sent to BUET in the name of testing.
Local businessmen alleged that they believe that revenue officer Solaiman Shahed had also made known undeclared assets in various areas including the capital with the bribe money. They said that the issues would come to light if the ACC investigated.
Local sources also said that irregularities in customs There have also been incidents of license suspension or 'bin lock' if someone speaks out to the media about it. The victims are afraid to speak out, and unscrupulous officials take advantage of this opportunity to collect large sums of unethical money every day.
Although attempts were made to contact the Benapole Customs Commissioner on his phone several times to inquire about the allegations, his comment was not received.
It is worth noting that earlier on October 6-25, another officer of Benapole Customs, Shamima Akhter, was caught in the ACC's trap. Hasibur Rahman, known as his assistant, was recovered with 2 lakh 76 thousand taka in bribe, which he confessed to the ACC that he was taking for Shamima.
Traders said that many people are reducing their use of this port and shifting their businesses elsewhere due to irregularities, harassment and bribery by a section of Benapole Customs. This is severely disrupting the import-export activities of one of the largest land ports in the country and negatively affecting the government's revenue.
