Staff Reporter

Service seekers, who go to submit any letter or application to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Sirajganj through its E-Service Centre, are being harassed by its Office Assistant Kamal Hossain for refusal to pay bribes.

“Pay Tk 100 first, then your letter or application will be docketed or received. Otherwise, wait or come later,” such voices are heard almost from Kamal Hossain aiming to most of the service seekers, while they appear before the E-service Centre of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Sirajganj for submitting any letter or application along the Deputy Commissioner (DC).

Seeking anonymity, some service seekers complained that, they are harassed by Kamal, while they go to submit any letter or application to the DC office. He demands bribe amount from Tk 50 to Tk 100 on the basis of service seekers’ attitude or personalities. If someone protest the incident, he or she is victim of misbehave by that employee of the office.

There is an allegation that, some local youths assist him to establish supremacy in the District E-Service Centre of the DC office taking share of the bribes. After end of the day, the money generated as bribes from several service seekers is shared themselves. Due to using muscle power of the local youths in his illicit deeds, no one of the office dares to open mouth against him, sources said.

Kamal Hossain realizes the money through his recruited men to avert CCTV camera and eyes of senior officers, victims claimed.

It is to be mentioned that, E-Service Centre has been set up at the DC office with a view to provide smooth service to the service seekers. Besides, making the service ease, speedy and digitalized, the government has set up such E-Service Centre at all the DC offices across the country to ensure services and strengthen e-document system. But, it is very painful that, most of the service seekers are being harassed or becoming victim of misbehave done by such as employee of the office due to lack of monitoring by the high-ups.

It is further mentionable that, Kamal Hossain, son of Sohrab Ali of Mituani village in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj district and also Office Assistant of the District E-Service Centre of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office has been engaged in malpractices since after joining in the office in March of this year.

Earlier, he used to serve at Palli Sanchay Bank as Field Worker. But he was forced to leave the job once due to his different faulty activities, sources said.

While contacted, Kamal Hossain got anger and said, “Do, what can you! I act as my will by managing from top to bottom of the office. So, you have nothing to do on me.”

Sufferers urged the authorities concerned to pay attention to the matter to avert harassment to the service seekers.