TAKHAR (SW): Hundreds of people applying for passport who were lined up to pay their passport fee at the Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank of Afghanistan) accused the guards at the bank for taking bribe money saying that although they have been waiting for several days, but the police allow some people to get in by receiving money from them in return.
They said that the police (guards) receive 100 to 300 AFN in bribe for allowing the applicants to enter the bank without waiting in the line. Some of these applicants claimed that even after four days waiting in the line, they have not been able to enter the bank to pay their passport application fee while the bank’s door closes at 11 am sharp.
A picture taken by one of these applicants clearly shows a police guard receiving money from an applicant. The photo taker claimed that he took the picture while the bank police (guard) was receiving the bribe money from an applicant; however, the officer (guard) whose picture is taken has denied being venal.
Meanwhile, Sayed Feraidon Hashimi, deputy head of the Da Afghanistan Bank in Takhar said that these claims are baseless saying that the money that this officer has received has been the application fee for one of his relative’s passport application which has been paid to the bank. However, he accepts that the work of people who know someone at the bank will be done sooner.
The bank officials said that due to the reduction in the Iranian visa fee, and also because of the pilgrimage season has started, the passport applicants have increased, therefore, they receive hundreds of applicants daily and as a result, delays have been seen.
ENDS
