The Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday conducted a raid on three election offices, including the regional election officer鈥檚 office, in Rajshahi following allegations of harassment and bribery in providing services at the offices.
A three-member enforcement team led by Amir Hossain, assistant director of the ACC鈥檚 Rajshahi district integrated office, visited the Boalia thana election office, the district election office and the regional election officer鈥檚 office, housed in the same building, at noon to look into the allegations.
The team collected documents and records related to applications for services and their settlements and also spoke to officials and service seekers at the offices.
After the raid, Amir said that the raid was carried out based on a complaint filed by a service recipient with the ACC on June 22.
鈥楾he complainant alleged people are facing harassment and irregularities in receiving services at the election offices. Official procedures are often delayed unless bribes are paid. We are investigating these claims,鈥� he said.
Amir said that they would submit a report to the ACC headquarters for further action based on their findings.
According to the complaint, people seeking services such as corrections or updates to national identity cards often face long delays, but they receive faster services when additional money is paid.
Boalia thana election officer Moshiur Rahman, however, denied allegations of irregularities.
鈥楾here is no harassment or extra charge at our office. But often, during passport processing, applicants are sent here unnecessarily for NID verification. At that stage, some of our outsourced staff take Tk聽200 or so from them,鈥� he said.
