ACC nabs customs officer, aide red-handed while taking bribe in Chattogram
A team from the ACC’s Chattogram office conducted the drive at the customs house’s Seven-B section this afternoon (16 September), detaining Rajib Roy, an assistant revenue officer, and his associate Mainuddin.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested an assistant revenue officer of Chattogram Customs House and his associate while taking bribe money from an importer.
A team from the ACC's Chattogram office conducted the drive at the customs house's Seven-B section this afternoon (16 September), detaining Rajib Roy, an assistant revenue officer, and his associate Mainuddin.
According to ACC officials, the importer, Amir Hossain, had submitted documents for the assessment of his goods on 7 September. Despite no irregularities being found, Rajib allegedly withheld clearance of the file, demanding bribes through a clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent.
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Rajib first demanded Tk50,000 and later Tk30,000, telling the importer that "to clear a file here, Tk30,000 to Tk50,000 must be paid, which is then distributed across different levels."
Acting on a pre-planned trap, the ACC team caught Rajib and Mainuddin red-handed with the cash.
Amir Hossain said his goods remained stuck at the port because of the bribe demand, forcing him to pay heavy demurrage charges. "My file was kept on hold even though everything was in order," he told reporters after the arrest.
ACC Assistant Director Saeed Islam, who led the operation, said a case will be filed and further investigation will determine whether others were involved.
He noted that bribery complaints at Chattogram Customs House are common. "This arrest will send a message. Officers will now think twice before demanding bribes," he said.
