Like other cities, capital Dhaka is still plagued by extortion, traffic congestion, pollution and other problems creating a chaotic and anarchic situation in the city’s road transport system. Countless traffic jams often prevent smooth flow of traffic throughout the day.
Terming the situation very alarming, experts and sector insiders said that law enforcers; political leaders and transport leaders are involved in extortion in a very planned way. According to a news report published in this national daily on Monday, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has leased out three bus terminals that fall under its jurisdiction. But after getting the lease, the leasees have begun extortion on the city roads violating the corporation’s terms and condition. It seems that there is none to stop them.
It is alleged that the leasees are collecting tolls at a higher rate than what has been fixed by the corporation from each and every public transport plying on city roads. Besides, rents are also being collected from the porters forcibly which the transport owners and the experts termed as nothing but extortion. The leased out Sayedabad Bus Terminal, Gulistan-Joykali Mandir Stopover Bus Terminal and Fulbaria Stopover Bus Terminal are under the control of extortionists.
Earlier, the DSCC also leased out parking spaces at Gulistan, Kamalapur, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, Motijheel, Demra, Madartek, Nandipara, Matuail and other areas, although the corporation has no such space worth the name.
Then again, drivers also alleged that Tk 200 to Tk 500 is being collected from each vehicle — bus and truck — instead of Tk 60 fixed by the authority. The transport department of DSCC has failed to stop the leasees’ extortion. The toll collectors not only take extortions from the transports, they also collect Tk 100 to Tk 300 from buyers of wholesale goods when they came out of different markets in the corporation area.
Traders have recently protested against this random extortion in different areas of the DSCC. But the corporation has not taken any action as yet. According to sources, Dhaka Chaka Limited of Gulshan area has been appointed a lessee to collect toll from these areas.
We have come to know that many local political leaders, police and leaseholders are allegedly collecting tolls under different names despite there being written complaints with the DSCC and local police stations. We apprehend the roads will remain as chaotic as before unless the authorities are determined to bring an end to this disorder in the city’s public transport system and act accordingly.
