The illicit practice is delaying the business process, increasing prices of goods and depriving the government of revenue, a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) report revealed.

The report on 'Benapole and Teknaf land port: A diagnostic study' also revealed that customs officials and port officials of the two land ports received no less than Tk 142.08 crore in bribe in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 financial years.

Government officials have been depriving the government of taxes from consignments for years by false declarations, the report said. The government have lost nearly Tk 100 crore of tax in the last four years, the report said quoting a customs official.

The report stated that businessmen on an average have to pay bribes of Tk 17,203 at Benapole and Tk 4,927 at Teknaf land port to release a consignment.

The publication ceremony of the report was held in the VIP lounge of the National Press Club.

Professor Muzaffer Ahmad, trustee member of TIB, said corruption and bribing at the land ports have been increasing prices of the goods and ultimately consumers are suffering and the government is losing revenue. He suggested that the government should take bilateral and regional initiatives at state level to solve the problem.

"People have to be aware to pressurise the government to stop the corruption and the system of bribing at the land ports," Professor Muzaffer said following the release of the report.

Many suggest privatisation of land ports to curb corruption and to speed up the system of consignment releasing, Muzaffer Ahamad said adding, "We did it in Teknaf land port. But corruption was not reduced there."

When asked, why the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) does not function in this sector, Professor Muzaffer said ACC is not independent and could not make itself ready to go into operation.

The study report was prepared by Saidur Rhaman Molla. Dipu Roy, Monzur E Khoda and Muzahidul Islam helped him in preparing the report.

The report stated that businessmen have to pay bribes at fixed rates of Tk 253 per ton of goods at Benapole land port and Tk 325 at Teknaf land port to release them. Customs officials collect 71 percent of the total bribe and 29 percent goes to the land port officials at Benapole. At Teknaf land port customs officials collect 94 percent of the bribe.

The report also said in two consecutive financial years from 2003 to 2005 the customs officials of Benapole collected Tk 99 crore as bribe and Tk 40 crore was collected by the port officials. The customs officials of Teknaf collected Tk 2.9 crore during the same period.