Drivers operating public transport from Khulna to nearby districts face rampant extortion on the street every day, and they say this has become the bane of their life.
During Eid, the amount is said to have gone up by 1.5 to 2 times, compounding the misery of drivers.
In the name of different organisations such as Bus Welfare Parishad, Sramik Union and Sramik Welfare Trust, a group of people extort money from the drivers. These people sit in small huts set up on the side of roads.
“Apart from the regular expenses and cost of oil, we have to spend an additional Tk1,800-2,000 for a trip from Khulna to Satkhira. In the end, we find that the total expense crosses Tk5,000, including all charges,” a minibus driver, who drive on Khulna-Satkhira route, told the Dhaka Tribune seeking anonymity.
“We only get money if there is anything left after paying these toll collectors and the regular deposit to be paid to the bus owner. In recent days, it has become very hard to save money for us as we have to pay a lot on road. We are in a miserable situation,” he said.
Several drivers alleged that they were dragged out of the bus and beaten up if they refused to pay toll. They are even prevented from driving to the destination in extreme cases.
The people who are collecting the toll have no lucid explanation under whose authority they are doing this. Some of them mention names of the ruling party leaders when it comes to authority.
Sohel Howladar, a toll collector who has a small hut just a few metres from Sonadanga bus terminal, told the Dhaka Tribune that the money was a tip for them from bus staff.
He said he did it under the authority of Mizanur Rahman Mizan, secretary of district Awami League and lawmaker of Khulna 2 constituency.
“He [Mizan] looks after all our problems,” he added.
Mizan, however, denied Sohel’s assertion, saying he was not aware of any such activity and that action would certainly be taken if this was really happening out there.
A toll collection hut was also seen in front of the office of the assistant commissioner of police in Khulna.
Other such huts were seen at Gollamari intersection – on both sides of the Gollamari bridge, just before the Khulna University entrance and at Zero Point in Khulna city.
Abul Kamal Azad Babu, president of the Intercity Minibus Owners’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had complained to the authority about this in the past but to no avail.
“As a form of protest, transport workers have often enforced strikes on 18 routes in Khulna but a few days later, everything got settled and the extortion continued,” he added.
Additional Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Mahbub Hakim said in case of such problems, the victims should lodge a report with the police.
“We will definitely take action based on the report,” he said.
However, there are not many who want to report such extortion as they think that would cost them more than what they can spend to keep the toll collectors satisfied.
A minibus driver operating on Khulna-Paikgachha route alleged involvement of police in extortion, saying: “If they [police] have no involvement, why do they overlook such matters and take no action even if it happens in front of them?”
Superintendent of Police of Khulna division Habibur Rahman, however, claimed that the rate of extortion had gone down compared to the past.
“We will definitely take action if we receive specific complaints. Besides, law enforcers are on regular patrol to prevent extortion,” he added.