BRTA rejects TIB report : Bribing officials based on assumptions, ill-intent
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Chairman Noor Mohammad Majumder has criticised Transparency International Bangladesh’s (TIB) recent report on bribery by BRTA, dismissing it as speculative and malicious.
The report alleges that BRTA officials engage in bribery practices when issuing vehicle registration, fitness certificates, route permits, and renewing certificates.
However, Majumder denounced these claims during a press conference held at the BRTA Banani office on Wednesday (6 March).
Majumder expressed his dismay at the negative portrayal of the government and BRTA in TIB’s report, stating that it tarnishes their reputation.
He urged TIB to refrain from publishing such reports that could sow confusion among the public and damage the government’s image.
Nonetheless, Majumder also indicated a willingness to consider any constructive and feasible recommendations put forth by TIB.
However, the recent report released by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has brought to light alarming findings regarding corruption and regulatory compliance within the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), particularly concerning the passenger bus sector.
According to the TIB report, a shocking 52.9% of passenger bus owners admitted to resorting to bribery to facilitate the updating of their registration and certificates with the BRTA.
The report further reveals that BRTA officials are illicitly collecting Tk17,619 per bus per month in bribes, totaling an astounding Tk900 crore annually.
Researchers at TIB also identified significant lapses in documentation among buses operating on the roads. Alarmingly, a considerable portion of buses lack essential paperwork, including registration (18.9%), fitness certificates (24%), tax tokens (18.5%), and route permits (22%).
Additionally, the report highlights that 40.9% of bus workers believe that their company operates at least one bus without proper documentation.
