The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against two officials of Benapole Customs House after their detention with Tk 2.76 lakh in bribe during a drive on Monday.
Deputy Director and investigation officer Al Amjn filed the case on Tuesday against Benapole Customs House revenue officer Shamima Akter and her associate Hasibur Rahman at the ACC’s Integrated District Office in Jashore.
A special ACC team led by Deputy Director Md Salauddin of the Jashore District Office conducted the drive on Monday following allegations that some customs officials were taking bribes in exchange for lenient assessments of imported goods.
The team detained Hasibur Rahman, locally known as an “NGO member, at the main gate of the customs house with Tk 2.76 lakh in cash.
During interrogation, Hasibur reportedly confessed that the money was meant as a bribe for revenue officer Shamima Akter.
The ACC team later took Hasibur to Shamima’s fourth-floor office in the customs building.
In the presence of Customs Commissioner Khaled Mohammad Abu Hossain, Shamima admitted that the money was intended for her and apologised for the incident, according to the ACC.
Earlier that evening, the ACC team faced obstruction when their vehicle was blocked for nearly 30 minutes at the Benapole Customs House premises while attempting conduct the drive.
The ACC has launched an investigation into both the bribery allegations and the obstruction faced by its officers during the drive.
