Finance adviser decries bribery, harassment in govt services
He emphasised that lawyers, as officers of the court, should provide fast and efficient services to clients, warning that delaying services is a form of harassment
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has openly acknowledged the pervasive issue of bribery and harassment within Bangladesh's service sector, particularly in government agencies.
Speaking at the launch of the "Tax Representative Management System (TRMS)" software at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) headquarters in Agargaon today (14 September), he shared personal anecdotes highlighting the problem.
"It takes a long time to get government services. I experience it myself..." he said, before recounting an instruction to his driver, "If there is anything regarding my car's driving licence, don't tell me everything. If you need something, just get it."
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He also shared a story of a former high-ranking government official who resorted to paying a bribe to obtain a telephone connection.
"Even if I had called 50 times, it probably wouldn't have worked. But once I paid the money, it worked," the adviser quoted the official.
During the event, Salehuddin Ahmed emphasised that citizens are willing to pay for genuine services.
If there is anything regarding my car's driving licence, don't tell me everything. If you need something, just get it
He urged the NBR to deliver various taxpayer services efficiently.
The event was organised by the NBR and attended by NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan, senior officials, and tax lawyers.
The finance adviser also called upon the lawyers, especially those in tax law, not to mislead the government with false information.
"Both plaintiff and defendant lawyers may lie or hide the truth. But we hope that lawyers will rely on facts and figures," he said, stressing that "lawyers should not keep the government in the dark."
He emphasised that lawyers, as officers of the court, should provide fast and efficient services to clients, warning that delaying services is a form of harassment.
"If you take money under the table and delay services. People may not mind paying, but it is not proper service," he added.
The adviser encouraged lawyers to provide efficient service, noting, "If you expedite your work, the process will be completed faster, and your income will increase."
