DHAKA, Dec 19, 2024 (BSS) - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched anti-graft drives at the Barisal Passport Office, Jessore BRTA, Dhaka Land Reform Board and the construction of unauthorized buildings in Hemsen Lane area in Chattogram, on charges of customer harassment and irregularities.

ACC Deputy Director (public relations) Md. Akhtarul Islam today said that a team of the Barisal ACC on Wednesday conducted a raid at the Passport and Visa Office following complaints of customer harassment and irregularities in providing passport services against the officers and employees of the Barisal Divisional Passport Office.

The brokers present in the office demanded Taka 12,000 from the ACC team members who were in disguises during the operation, saying that they would complete each passport within 15 days. In view of this, two brokers were arrested in the presence of the executive magistrate and police members.

Later, the brokers were sentenced to imprisonment and fined.

From the statements of the arrested brokers, it is known that the office assistant and security guard (outsourcing) of the Barisal Divisional Passport and Visa Office are involved in the irregularities.

A request has been made to the Deputy Director of the Divisional Passport and Visa Office, Barisal, to take departmental actions against them.

A team from the ACC's Jashore Integrated District Office conducted a raid against Jashore BRTA officials and employees following allegations of demanding bribes for registration, fitness, ownership change and route permits of vehicles.

The enforcement team collected information from the relevant departments in disguise. While secretly collecting information, it was seen that the brokers were demanding bribes for registration, license, fitness and change of ownership.

In view of this, five brokers were arrested during the operation. Later, the brokers were fined through the mobile court run by the executive magistrate. The ACC team advised all concerned to ensure supervision to stop harassment of service seekers and to follow the Citizen Charter properly in providing services.

Another operation was conducted today by the Anti-Corruption Commission head office following allegations of land reform board officials selling plots to land robbers for huge sums of money, excluding those who had taken legal leases.

During the operation, the team members who were undercover, monitored the overall service delivery situation of the office and inspected the leased property taken by National Plaza Limited in Aukpara, Ashulia. During the on-site inspection, preliminary information about violations of rules was found.

Later, information regarding the lease was collected from the members of the cooperative society and the necessary documents were collected from the responsible officer of the concerned Nawab Estate of the Land Reform Board.

The ACC Deputy Director said that the enforcement team will submit a detailed report to the commission after verifying the records.

Besides, a drive was conducted from the Chattogram Integrated District Office, Chattogram-1, following allegations of illegal construction of multi-storey buildings without proper planning and clearance from the Department of Environment in Hemsen Lane area of Chattogram.

During the drive, the necessary records related to the complaint were collected from the Chattogram Development Authority. The review showed that the concerned officer of the CDA issued the Land Utilization Clearance Certificate (LUC) without visiting the site.