At Badamtoli Ghat, one of the capital’s largest wholesale fruit markets, truck drivers say they are routinely forced to make multiple payments to bring vehicles into the area, with government-authorized parking arrangements allegedly being used as a cover for unauthorized collections.
The roughly half-kilometre stretch from Sadarghat to Babubazar Bridge has fruit warehouses on one side and the Buriganga River on the other. Around 30 trucks line the road towards Wiseghat, while others are parked in designated areas.
Drivers and traders told Dhaka Tribune they often make two or three payments under different names. Depending on where a truck is parked, whether goods are sold from it and how long it stays, they are charged Tk2,000-Tk5,000.
BIWTA officials said the government-approved rate is Tk100 per truck for every three hours. Most trucks leave within three to four hours, meaning the minimum Tk2,000 charge is 20 times the authorized rate.
A Dhaka Tribune reporter visited the area from 11am to 7pm on Thursday and witnessed individuals collecting money with paper slips at five points around Kagoz Market, Glass Market, Babubazar Bridge, the Mitford Hospital morgue and Wiseghat.
Rakib, who was selling grapes from a Russell Food and Transport Agency truck, said they pay Tk3,000 per truck to auction and sell fruit. If the fruit is not sold within a day, additional charges are imposed.
Nasirul, a truck driver from Chapainawabganj, said he paid Tk500 simply to park an empty truck.
“I don't understand how the parking fees are determined. Different trucks are charged different amounts,” truck driver Nasirul said.
Dhaka Mahanagar Fruits Import-Export & Merchants Multiple Co-operative Society Ltd President Serazul Islam said the association collects Tk300 from members for each fruit-laden truck to fund security guards, linemen, cleaners and other activities.
“We use the money to pay security guards, linemen and cleaners, as well as for other activities of the association. We collect it in accordance with our association’s rules. We currently have more than Tk5 crore in our account, and every few years, we distribute the accumulated funds among our more than 2,200 members,” Serazul Islam said.
Asked about the Tk300 collected by the leaseholder from each truck, Serazul declined to comment.
Political control alleged
Several traders alleged that larger collections are made under the leadership of Suman Bhuiyan, president of Dhaka South Metropolitan Sramik Dal and a prospective candidate for councillor of Ward 37.
Khokon, seen collecting money with a receipt book, said he hands the money to Sohrab and Mizan, who then pass it to Suman Bhuiyan. He said the rates are Tk1,000 for parking, Tk2,000 when goods are sold from trucks, Tk3,000-Tk4,000 when goods are auctioned directly from vehicles and Tk400 for empty trucks after unloading.
Local traders said six collectors are associated with Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Truck driver Mohammad Nuran, who brought dragon fruit from Jhenaidah to Wiseghat, said such payments had become routine after August 5, 2024.
“Earlier, I did not have to pay anything to park on this road. Now I have to. It started four or five months after August 5,” Mohammad Nuran said, adding that collectors invoke the name of BNP.
Trader MD Porag Ali said he paid Tk500 to unload mangoes at Wiseghat and had never previously paid for roadside parking during his decade of bringing goods to Dhaka.
“I have been bringing goods to Dhaka for about a decade. I never had to pay for parking on this roadside before. Now I do,” Porag Ali said.
Disputed parking lease
The parking yard was leased in 2024 for Tk97.64 lakh for one year to Sheikh Abdul Karim, popularly known as Karim Haji, then chairman of Madhyapara Union Parishad in Munshiganj’s Sirajdikhan and president of the local Awami League unit.
After August 5, 2024, Karim went into hiding. Local Jubo Dal and Sramik Dal leaders subsequently took control, although the lease was not transferred.
BIWTA said Karim had filed a case in 2022 over losses during the Covid-19 pandemic and sought a lease extension. Traders alleged that Bhuiyan, Ahmed Hossain Sobhan, former joint general secretary of Kotwali Thana Jubo Dal, and Jewel Hawladar, former organizing secretary, control the operation.
Traders estimate more than 150 trucks enter Badamtoli daily. Based on an average Tk2,000 charge and Tk500 for empty trucks, they estimate collections at about Tk375,000 a day, Tk1.125 crore a month and Tk13.5 crore a year. The amount could be higher when smaller trucks and other vehicles are included.
Suman Bhuiyan denied taking more than previous rates.
“Because I am well known and accepted in the area, many people use my name for their own interests. Karim Haji went into hiding after August 5. Since then, we have been running the operation by paying the monthly lease amount. Two others are with me, and they mainly look after it,” Suman Bhuiyan, president of Dhaka South Metropolitan Sramik Dal, said.
He said traders bear costs such as truck hire and workers’ wages.
“Truck drivers do not personally pay this money. Genuine traders know that this is tender money and that it has been collected this way for a long time. If it were completely illegal, the traders themselves would have opposed it,” Bhuiyan said.
He acknowledged that the tender does not authorize charges for trucks parked on public roads, saying some are temporarily parked there because of limited space.
During the interview, three BIWTA officials entered his office and addressed him as “brother”. They declined to comment on the lease, while one later said they had visited Bhuiyan regarding another tender.
Police collections alleged
Dhaka Tribune also witnessed a Kotwali police patrol team led by SI Arman collecting Tk300 from roadside trucks at Wiseghat, allegedly threatening drivers with cases.
The team was travelling in a Dhaka Metro Tha-11-6075 police vehicle. A driver using the pseudonym Mohammad Ahad Mia said he had paid Tk300 to the team and around Tk950 in various collections after entering Wiseghat, none with receipts.
“When a group is on duty, they collect money. If we do not pay, they threaten us with a case,” Mohammad Ahad Mia said.
Police initially denied taking money. After being told the reporter had photographs and video footage, the officers apologized and promised not to repeat the practice. SI Arman also asked the reporter not to publish the incident.
“We have families. They are under a lot of pressure. If you consider our situation, that would help,” SI Arman said.
The police team also included Nozrul, Milon and Amal, while one officer could not immediately be identified.
DMP Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman said he was unaware of the matter.
“If anyone has a specific complaint regarding this, we will investigate the incident and take appropriate action against those responsible,” Muhammad Talebur Rahman, DMP Lalbagh Division deputy commissioner, said.
The driver also alleged that police demand money from fruit trucks at Gabtoli, Shyampur and Mazar Road.
Traders bear higher costs
At the market, a 7-8kg crate of black grapes was being auctioned for Tk2,300-Tk2,600, while the same grapes sell for Tk500-Tk650 per kg in Dhaka retail markets.
Traders said multiple charges increase their operating costs and contribute to higher retail prices. They said Dhaka-6 MP Ishraque Hossain asked in June for parking costs to be reduced, but the situation has not changed.
Traders also alleged that part of the collection reaches corrupt BIWTA officials. Bhuiyan rejected the allegations, saying others use his name for their own interests.
BIWTA response
BIWTA Joint Director Md Mobarak Hossain Majumder said the leaseholder is authorized to collect Tk100 per truck for every three hours at the parking yard.
“If anyone collects more than that and a trader or truck driver complains to us, we will take action against the person responsible,” Md Mobarak Hossain Majumder, BIWTA joint director, said.
He said a case filed in 2025 on behalf of Karim Haji resulted in a court-directed month-to-month extension of the old lease, preventing a fresh tender. Monthly challans continue to be issued in Karim’s name, he said.
“Every month, the payment challan is issued in Karim Haji’s name. We are continuing the legal proceedings. Once the case is resolved, a fresh lease can be awarded,” Majumder said.
However, Bhuiyan showed Dhaka Tribune payment challans and said he has been paying the lease money and VAT to BIWTA every month since August 5, 2024.