Staff Reporter :
No one gets result of driving test exam without bribing officials at Keranigonj’s Ekuria Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) regional office. And bribe is mandatory for changing vehicle’s ownership and getting fitness certificate. It is alleged about Tk 10 lakh transaction is made usually each day in this office.
A victim anonymously said that he went to Ekuria BRTA office to know about driving license and other matters on November last week. When he reached at Ekuria BRTA office premises a group of Ansar team came to him after seeing papers in his hand. They give a proposal to him saying that everything will be managed and license will be available within 21 working days if Tk. 10000 is paid.
If the applicants do not maintain the contract promise, they would have to suffer a lot in every steps, victims also alleged.
Statistics showed that last October 29, 295 applicants sat for driving license exam from Dhaka Metro circle where 24 failed. 490 driving license seekers sat from Dhaka District circle where 60 were not able to pass and 480 from Savar circle where 80 had failed. There are allegations that if anyone passes without exchanging any bribe, he/she has to face severe obstacles in various steps.The sufferers said, in this govt. office at least Tk 10 lakh transaction is made every working day.
The officials however opposed the allegation and said, there is no scope to prove driving license in exchange for bribe.
Besides, it is seen that a group of touts was active at ownership changing and fitness units at the office.
When contacted over the Ekuria office irregularities, the BRTA Chairman refrained from making any comments. But one of the Directors has denied all allegations about bribe taking at Ekuria BRTA regional office.
