'Land mutation bribes have risen from up to Tk1 lakh to Tk10 lakh', says East Coast Group chairman
Azam J Chowdhury also criticised macro-level reforms, saying that everyday processes like import clearance remain slow, inefficient, and unreformed
East Coast Group Chairman Azam J Chowdhury today (28 January) alleged that a sharp rise in corruption in land mutation processes, claiming that bribes demanded through deputy commissioner offices have increased tenfold in recent years.
"The harassment that occurs through the DC's office and its various departments when mutating land, followed by extortion, is called the LR Fund. Previously, one had to pay bribes of Tk50,000 to Tk1 lakh. Now it takes up to Tk10 lakh, which is extremely unfortunate," he at a seminar and student scholarship award ceremony in the capital.
The event, titled "Macro-Economic Stability and Challenges for the New Government", was organised by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the NLI Auditorium in Kawran Bazar, Dhaka and chaired by ERF President Doulot Akter Mala.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Azam J Chowdhury also described the interim government as an "NGO government," saying it has not consulted business leaders on any matter.
"Since they [advisers] came from NGOs, they have tried to run the entire country through NGOs," he said at a seminar and student scholarship award ceremony titled Macro-Economic Stability and Challenges for the New Government.
"Have any reforms actually happened in the country? Imported goods are supposed to be cleared within a day of paying the duty. But that doesn't happen. Often, they don't even realise what has been imported. Sometimes, it is sent to Buet, comes back a month later, and is cleared after one and a half months. The hardships at the micro level are not part of macro-level reforms," he said.
He added, "Macro-level measures are a big picture – how the economy functions, which is why the Ministry of Finance and the Bangladesh Bank are working on them. Everyone can see that. But operational procedures happen at the micro-level, and there have been no reforms there."
The seminar's chief guest was Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud.
Speaking at the event, he referred to the education ministry, saying, "Teachers at government colleges are paying Tk8 lakh each in bribes to get transfers. When I was in charge of this ministry, hundreds of people would gather outside my office."
Referring to issues with projects, the adviser noted that in the new policy, after involving beneficiaries in project implementation, people question the contractors, saying, 'The bricks and mortar you used aren't good.' As a result, now no official wants to become a project director."
Special guests included National Life Insurance Chairman Toffazzal Hossain, Acting Managing Director of BRAC Bank Syed Abdul Momen, Additional Managing Director of Islami Bank M Kamaluddin Jasim, Deputy Managing Director of Mutual Trust Bank Md Shamsul Islam, former ERF president Shamsul Haque Zahid, and National Life Insurance CEO Md Kazim Uddin.
