BRTA rejects TIB allegation of taking bribes from bus owners

Staff Correspondent

Publisted at 4:09 PM, Wed Mar 6th, 2024

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has rejected the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report that accuses it of collecting money from bus and minibus owners illegally, terming the report as motivated.

“The TIB report is speculative, untrue, and purposeful,” said BRTA Chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder at a press conference at the head office of the transport sector regulator in Banani, Dhaka today (6 March).

On Tuesday, TIB released a research report titled 'Integrity in Privately Owned Bus Transport Business,' alleging that BRTA officers and employees illegally collect Tk900 crore annually from the owners of buses and minibuses.

It stated that bus and minibus owners pay about Tk1,600 crore in total annually to various parties as extortion money and bribes.

BRTA called today’s press conference to present its stand regarding the report.

The BRTA chairman said, “Despite the fact that there is no information, including any oral or written complaint in BRTA or the ministry, a false report has been prepared by TIB. As BRTA services have gone digital, service seekers do not need to go to its office. Therefore, there is no room for bribery and corruption in BRTA.”

He said the TIB report has tarnished the image of the government along with BRTA.

He requested TIB to refrain from publishing reports based on such “speculative information, which creates confusion in the public mind and undermines the image of the government” in the future.

However, he continued, constructive and practical recommendations made by TIB will be taken into consideration.

The press conference was attended by top officials of BRTA.

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