A long-running syndicate involving more than a hundred outsiders engaged in bribery, fraud and illegal interference in customs activities has come under the spotlight at Bangladesh’s largest customs station –Chattogram Custom House (CCH).
These individuals, working informally as computer operators, office assistants and brokers in various groups and sections, allegedly facilitated unethical dealings between customs officials, C&F agents and representatives of import-export companies.
Following a detailed complaint on October 28 to the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the CCH commissioner and chief adviser, authorities have begun clamping down.
The complaint named four alleged key perpetrators – Mohammad Faisal Mahmud, Shahriar Shakil, Nikunju Sarkar, and another individual – while also attaching names, photographs and mobile phone numbers of 82 illegal outsiders.
According to the complaint, these outsiders were embedded in customs operations during the previous political regime, exploiting influence and collaboration with corrupt officials. Each group/section of the customs house was reportedly staffed with up to eight of these individuals – who even recruited more brokers, collected illegal money and ensured their safe movement inside government premises.
Following receipt of the complaint, strict monitoring of entry into the customs house began on October 31. Outsiders have since been barred from entering, and many are said to be in hiding to avoid arrest or interrogation.
During a visit to CCH on Sunday, Ansar members and customs security personnel were seen rigorously checking ID cards at the entrance. C&F agents, importers’ representatives and all stakeholders were allowed inside only after verification.
Stakeholders disclosed that customs officials often used outsiders to operate the automated clearance system by sharing official user IDs and passwords, creating opportunities for widespread fraud and manipulation of revenue records.
“We have been witnessing outsiders widely engaging in bribery using the identity of customs staff for years. This is an open secret,” said Mosharraf Hossain, secretary of the Chattogram C&F Employees Union.
“If these illegal brokers are removed, harassment and bribery in customs clearance will significantly reduce,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner and CCH spokesperson HM Kabir told TIMES that the matter is being taken seriously.
“No investigation committee has yet been formed, but steps are underway to ensure no outsider can enter without proper authorization,” he said.
CCH collects approximately Tk 80,000 crore in revenue annually but operates with barely 50 percent of its sanctioned manpower. The staffing structure has remained unchanged since 2011, with nearly half of the approved 1,248 posts vacant.
Due to this severe workforce shortage, officials have long been dependent on unofficial assistants, who have gradually become part of a corruption network inside the system.
Recently, an Anti-Corruption Commission raid at CCH led to the arrest of Revenue Officer Rajib Roy and his associate Sarwar Uddin. The two were caught red-handed with Tk 30,000 in bribe money, and this incident once again exposed how entrenched corruption and harassment have become in customs operations.
