Plant Quarantine or trap for bribery!
An on looker, East Shewrapara, Mirpur, Dhaka
Anyone passing through the arrival hall of the International Terminal building of the ZIA cannot miss the large signboard adjacent to the customs counter with a special footnote ''please examine your plant and plant materials such as fruits, flowers, spices etc through this counter''. One will find some uniformed staff of the plant Quarantine section and mistake them to be Customs Officer because of the stark similarity of the uniform. Therein lies the tricks of the trade. Ordinary passengers returning home from abroad usually bring very small amount of spices and fruits, and this is chiefly for their personal consumption. Hardly anyone imports plants and seeds into the country. The quarantine staff intercept and direct the innocent and ordinary, mostly illiterate travellers, to their counter and exploit them in their own way. Out of fear and confusion the passengers have to dole out their foreign currency. This is very painful. The title of the board is not compatible with the footnote and obviously it was done with a motive in mind. I do travel a lot but at no airport I have seen the Plant Quarantine counter so prominently displayed. In other countries, presence of Plant Quarantine staff is hardly noticeable and they only come forward when so required by the passengers and that too only for examining the imported plants and seeds. We all know the state of affairs in our market. No one is there to check rotten foodstuff being sold openly in the markets. Even smelling unwholesome fish from the dirty and stinky water is being openly sold. In contrast to this, no shopkeeper would dare selling foodstuff not fit for consumption, in other countries. What purpose it serves to the nation by detaining the travellers on the plea of examining their small amounts of fruits and spices? This is absolutely unnecessary and should be stopped forthwith. Plant Quarantine should only be there in true sense, like those in any other country. We are known for our corruption and to exploit the innocent travellers, Plant Quarantine counter has been established in our own way at the airport. And, the uniform of the staff must be changed. By changing the rules at least we can eliminate one step of corruption and harassment of our passengers and give some relief to our people. Our political leaders should take their lessons from other developing nations and introduce what is necessary for the benefit of the country. Please allow the citizens to feel free and enjoy their freedom. Allow them to take home their edibles without any hassle at the point of entry to the nation. I draw the attention of the agriculture minister and earnestly request him to review the establishment of our Plant Quarantine counter at the airport. Air travellers, after long overnight journey, deserve it.
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