Staff Reporter :
Like the businessmen, the government too cannot avoid the responsibility about the jeweller’s dependency on smuggling in the gold business, the Transparency International Bangladesh said on Friday.
Widespread corruption has swallowed the jewellery sector since a long time. Besides, lack of policy formulation and implementation of law along with negligence in duty of a section of officials concerned are mainly responsible for the rampant gold smuggling in the country.
In a statement issued yesterday, the TIB demanded that the government should take effective steps to ensure accountability and transparency while formulating the gold policy involving the stakeholders.
“Though it was neglected for a long time, the ongoing drive conducted by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate [CIID] under the existing law should be applicable for other jewellery shops also. At the same time, unauthorised influence by the business associations concerned or creating obstacle by any quarter will be illogical, illegal and unethical,” TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekheruzzaman said.
He said, “A section of dishonest traders has long been running their gold business through corruption means and gold smuggling for lack of a proper policy and laws. But, the authorities concerned haven’t taken proper steps to check it, which causes harm to the country’s economy.”
The TIB issued the statement at a time when CIID
has taken tough stance against Apan Jewellers and seized about half a tonne of gold from its five outlets in the city. The CIID also filed five cases against three owners of the organization. Of them, three cases were filed against Dildar Ahmed and one each against two brothers.
Director General of CIID Dr Moinul Khan said the owners of Apan Jewellers could not show any document in favour of the gold. So, the gold has been deposited to the Central Bank as per law.
Like the businessmen, the government too cannot avoid the responsibility about the jeweller’s dependency on smuggling in the gold business, the Transparency International Bangladesh said on Friday.
Widespread corruption has swallowed the jewellery sector since a long time. Besides, lack of policy formulation and implementation of law along with negligence in duty of a section of officials concerned are mainly responsible for the rampant gold smuggling in the country.
In a statement issued yesterday, the TIB demanded that the government should take effective steps to ensure accountability and transparency while formulating the gold policy involving the stakeholders.
“Though it was neglected for a long time, the ongoing drive conducted by Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate [CIID] under the existing law should be applicable for other jewellery shops also. At the same time, unauthorised influence by the business associations concerned or creating obstacle by any quarter will be illogical, illegal and unethical,” TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekheruzzaman said.
He said, “A section of dishonest traders has long been running their gold business through corruption means and gold smuggling for lack of a proper policy and laws. But, the authorities concerned haven’t taken proper steps to check it, which causes harm to the country’s economy.”
The TIB issued the statement at a time when CIID
has taken tough stance against Apan Jewellers and seized about half a tonne of gold from its five outlets in the city. The CIID also filed five cases against three owners of the organization. Of them, three cases were filed against Dildar Ahmed and one each against two brothers.
Director General of CIID Dr Moinul Khan said the owners of Apan Jewellers could not show any document in favour of the gold. So, the gold has been deposited to the Central Bank as per law.
