Cattle traders heading to Dhaka ahead of Eid ul-Azha say they are facing rampant extortion at various points along highways and water routes into the capital.
Traders say extortionists have gained the upper hand over police and Rab, despite preventative measures by the Home Ministry including the deployment of additional forces, intensification of patrolling, and the installation of regular checkpoints.
The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that dealers are having to part with money at 15 separate points on the way into Dhaka from North Bengal, and at 10 points on routes from the south. Some corrupt lawmen were also extorting money from them, they alleged.
Abdur Rahim, 45, a trader who came to the capital’s Azimpur market with only ten cattle on a mini-truck from Chuadanga, told the Dhaka Tribune he had to pay Tk150-Tk200 at 10 police checkpoints.
“I had to part with the money because if I did not pay, the officials on duty would unnecessarily cause delay in the name of checking valid documents,” alleged Rahim.
Other traders in Azimpur and Gabtoli markets relayed similar experiences of having to pay de facto Eid bonuses to highway policemen, sergeants, musclemen and staff members manning the ferries, thus hiking cattle prices ultimately.
Sohel Mia, a cattle trader from Jessore recently arrived at Gabtoli market, alleged to this correspondent that a very large amount of money was being extorted at Daulatdia, Aricha, Nagarbari, Maowa and Kaorakandi ferry terminals.
Manzur Mia transported his cows from Bogra to the market at Gabtoli, and alleged he had to pay Tk300 to police and local politicos on both sides of Bangabandhu Bridge, Tk300 while his cattle truck arrived at Tangail, and Tk200 and Tk300 at Ashulia and Aminbazar respectively.
Traders from the south of the country are experiencing similar problems, paying an additional Tk500-Tk600 on average on both sides of Mawa and Aricha.
Traders are being forced to pay tolls at Arial Kha, Vanga of Faridpur and at the capital’s entry points – Postagola, Savar, Gazipur, Baipail and Ashulia.
Rustom Ali Khan, secretary general of the Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune they held a meeting with administrative officials to protect cattle traders from extortionists.
In this regard, Shamsul Haque Tuku, state minister for home and affairs, said police and Rab officials had already been asked to take appropriate measures to stop extortion from cattle markets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
He said: “All cattle markets have been kept under intelligence watch, and we have a plan to deploy mobile court in the markets to ensure full-proof security,” he added.
With only four days to go to Eid day, cattle were yet to reach the capital in large numbers.
