Sonahat land port, the 18th land port of the country, at Kurigram’s Bhurungamari upazila is allegedly infested with rampant extortion by local port leaders.
There is allegation against the Sonahat Land Port Importers-Exporters’ Association for charging potential traders a hefty amount as membership fees unjustly. Moreover, labourers at the port also blackmail importers in the name of tips and increased pay.
Since the coal import from India began in December last year, Sonahat port has become a trading hub with more and more importers rushing for business. The coal imported through Sonahat is also in great demand as the brick fields of the country have been in dire need for coal.
However, this surge in business also prompted some dishonest businessmen to take advantage of the situation.
The association formed by a mighty few has allegedly been collecting Tk50,000 as membership fee from the importers. And without becoming a member of the association, no one is allowed to use the port to load or unload goods.
Especially the importers coming from other parts of the country are facing the biggest obstacles.
An importer from Mymensingh, on assurance of anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Most of the local importers are not members of this association. It is the outsiders who are forced to become a members. Actually this is just another way of extortion.”
Meanwhile, a recent visit to the port found that Nayeem Enterprise, an importing company, was not allowed by the association to unload the goods. Hence, despite a huge demand of coal, the company could not sell it to its clients.
Abdus Salam, owner of Nipa Trading said: “I am now in trouble after importing coal through this port. The association members did not allow me to sell my imported coal. Finding no other alternatives, I had to pay the Tk50,000 fee. I was also afraid to complaint to anyone.”
Sheikh International, a local importer from the Kurigram district, was asked about the association. “The association has no legal ground. I am not a member.” When asked how he was trading through the port without being a member, he said the association did not have the ability to stop him.
When contacted, General Secretary of the association and proprietor of Bonna Enterprise, Abdur Razzak, acknowledge the membership fee and said: “We take Tk10,000 from the local importers and Tk50,000 from the outsiders. Because the local importers have contributed to starting the port and develop its infrastructure. With the money from members, we plan to buy a land for the association and build an office.”
Asked if the association was registered, Abdur Razzak said they had applied for registration recently and would get it within 10-15 days.
Moreover, importers also alleged that the labourers of the port demand higher pay compared to other land ports in the country. They also demand a fixed baksheesh from the importers.
Importer Shaheen from Mymensingh said: “We pay Tk5 per CFT to the labourers here compared to Tk3 in other land ports. In addition, the labourers literally blackmail us by demanding minimum Tk1000 baksheesh for their work. They would not settle for anything less. Sometimes, they would also refuse to load or unload our goods if we don’t pay them what they demand.”
He further claimed that the labour union in the port was without government approval and there was no state regulation at the port.
This correspondent tried to contact by phone Khalilur Rahman in charge of customs and VAT at Sonahat land port but failed to get any response.
In response to the allegations, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram district ABM Azad said: “I have no idea about the matter. In fact you are first one to tell me. If anyone formally complaints, I will look into it.”