Truck owners have stopped sending trucks to the Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj in protest of extortion and harrassment by the facilitators, labour coordinators, and Panama Port Link.
Goods coming from India are now stuck at the port since Sunday morning as a result of the protest by the truck owners’ group and the truck and motor workers’ union in the district.
President of the truck owners’ group Aminul Islam Sentu said: “Everyday trucks transport goods imported from India to different parts of the country. These trucks are charged exorbitant amounts in the name of facilitation, labour coordination and Panama Port Link by locals identified as Sobhan, Arif, Kajim Ali, and Motahar Hossain Mota.
“They charge trucks carrying fruits Tk10,000, onions Tk2,500, corn Tk1,500, and stones Tk3,000. Because of such extortion truck fares are going up, and the owners are getting less money. It is becoming difficult for the owners.
“If their demanded amounts are not met, they don’t release the truck from the port under various ruse. Labour coordinators extort Tk400-Tk1,200 out of every truck. That is why the truck owners’ group and the truck and motor workers’ union jointly decided to not send trucks to the Sonamasjid Port from Sunday morning. But trucks are operating as usual in other parts of the district.”
Pushpa Narayan Burman, President of the truck and motor workers’ union, said almost 250 trucks have been kept parked at the central truck terminal in the district town since Sunday morning.
In this regard Sonamasjid land port labour coordination committee President Sadiqul Islam said a fair amount of money is taken for facilitation and loading of goods, no extra money is charged. “This problem has occurred because the district truck owners’ group demanded that they be assigned more trips as well as the higher-rate trips.” he added.
Meanwhile, Panama Port Link Manager Probir Chandra Shil denied the allegation of extortion.