Corrupt law enforcers and musclemen with influence are allegedly extorting cattle traders on the highways, with trucks stopped at various points on the pretence of checking documents but in fact they demand payment of toll and festival tips.
Cattle traders are helpless under such circumstances as there is no one they can turn to who would listen to their allegations on the road, so they end up giving their money to the extortionists.
Hossain Ali, a trader who came from Jessore with 16 animals to sell at the capital’s Azimpur market, told the Dhaka Tribune that on the way to Dhaka he dealt with extortion at eight points by 10 different parties.
Most extortionists were members of law enforcement agencies who charged traders Tk200-300 for every animal, said Hossian Ali, and added that he had to pay once in Faridpur, on both shores of Aricha ferry terminal, as well as in Savar, Ashulia, Aminbazar and Gabtoli.
He said such extortion would lead to traders raising the price of each animal by approximately Tk4,000-5,000.
While Javed Bepari, a trader from Dinajpur, said that he paid toll at 14 spots on the way to the capital. He said local musclemen have set up makeshift bamboo road blocks where they demand payment of toll and the police collect money when they stop vehicles to check papers and keep them waiting.
In this regard, Mahmudul Alam Montu, member secretary of Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners Association, told the Dhaka Tribune there was uncontrolled extortion going on, and added that in some cases vehicles carrying cattle had to pay as much as Tk40,000 on their way to Dhaka.
He said such circumstances caused frustration for traders who have no one to turn to for help because they can’t take their allegations of extortion to law enforcers since the police are also involved in many instances.
Traders have also complained that they have to pay toll at the cattle markets where some space is always designated by the police as an extension of these markets.
The police are allegedly demanding money from cattle market contractors for extending the market area, and also demanding traders pay up for settling on the extended that the law enforcers have marked as an extension of the market.
Sixteen year old Sumon Sheikh is here with his father to sell their cattle at the Azimpur market. He said because they could not find any space in the main part of the cattle market, they had to settle in the extension.
Sumon said they had to give the police Tk1000, because they were threatened with jail if they did not pay up.
Rustom Ali Khan, secretary general of the Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners Association said that every year the government and law enforcement agencies meet to discuss the issue of extortion, and they give their assurance that extortionists would be dealt with but it doesn’t have any impact on the actual situation.
When contacted, Inspector General (IG) of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker, told the Dhaka Tribune that law enforcers were performing their duties properly, responsibly and honestly.
The IG said if any groups were involved in irregularities then stern action would be taken against them.
