Illegal tolls collected from footpath hawkers have skyrocketed to unimaginable heights this year, and are seeing an additional spike from newcomers who come to peddle their wares only during the month of fasting – and shopping.
Daily toll collections crossed Tk9.3 crore per day, while an extra Tk200 crore for spots sold only during the month of Ramadan is expected to fill extortionists’ coffers this month, sources said.
According to the Bangladesh Hawkers Federation, there are at least 260,000 permanent hawkers in the capital, but an additional 50,000 will also hawk their wares ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Extortionists are reportedly expecting to get hold of some extra space from a section of city corporation and police officials.
Extortionists already collected Tk10,000 from existing hawkers as an “Eid Tip” at the beginning of the month, according to footpath hawkers.
That means they have already pocketed Tk260 crore from permanent hawkers for their space on the footpath.
Newcomers who want to cash in on the shopping frenzy during Ramadan must pay even more.
Extortionists are selling spaces for between Tk30,000 and Tk50,000, depending on size and location. For very popular areas like Motijheel, Newmarket and Paltan a large space can go for as much as Tk50,000.
Thus, from the 50,000 newcomers, extortionists have bagged more than Tk200 crore in extra income.
In reply to the question of just who these extortionists are, footpath hawkers described them as ruling party men, city corporation officials, electricity linemen and law enforcers.
Hawkers said electricity linemen collect Tk50 for illegal electricity connections, netting in total at least Tk16 crore.
Once the space is secured by money paid up-front, hawkers must pay a daily rent to extortionists.
Footpath hawkers say, depending on locality and size, they must pay at least Tk300 per day during the month of Ramadan to extortionists, covering both musclemen and the police.
Thus, since the number of hawkers in the capital this month is approximately 310,000, daily toll collections come to Tk9.3 crore. The monthly extortion bill for the month of fasting therefore comes to Tk 270 crore, excluding “tips” and up-front security money.
Abul Kashem, president of the Bangladesh Hawkers Federation, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that law enforcers had been repeatedly informed about toll collections. “We have even filed cases, but nothing has come of it.”
“Moreover, if it is exposed that hawkers have complained about tolls, extortionists’ musclemen destroy their shops and give the hawker a sound beating,” Kashem said.
Kashem said hawkers have long lobbied the government to lease parts of the footpath to them, thus increasing taxes and putting an end to criminal extortionists.
Asked about it, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of police, said: “We often conduct drives against illegal footpath hawkers. If a complaint comes to us about footpath extortion, we take action about it and then investigate it.”
Monirul, also the spokesperson of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, said if police officials were found to be involved, stern action would be taken against them.
The Dhaka Tribune has learned that 70 organised extortionist syndicates, each with 15 to 20 members, operate in the city.
During Ramadan, they hike the daily tolls by Tk100 to Tk200 more than the regular tolls demanded during the rest of the year. Those who regularly pay Tk150 now have to pay Tk300 or more for Ramadan.
DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said: “We have already evicted hawkers from several spots in the capital before Eid. As the mayors of Dhaka South and Dhaka North have asked us to remain silent, we have stopped evictions for a while.”
