EVERYBODY knows that rampant extortion on the roads and highways is a major reason for lawlessness and the culture of impunity that prevails in the country’s road transport sector. Millions of taka are being extorted from this sector every year, which is allegedly distributed among people in the power structure, from top to bottom. This is why the authorities remain reluctant to take actions against the extortion though it’s a crime in the eye of the law.
We see the government plays a double standard role for maintaining the power in the transport sector by encouraging the extortion in various ways. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, also executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation, admitted that it would be difficult to stop extortion in the transport sector as his fellows run the corrupt system.
Transport owners and workers particularly the drivers have blamed highway police for extorting money from all types of motorized, non-motorised and illegal vehicles. They also blame activists of workers and owners’ associations for charging excessive ‘token money’. State Minister for rural development and co-operatives Md Mashiur Rahman Ranga, also Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association president, said some police personnel had already been transferred in this connection. Besides, the police administration has taken action against some corrupt officials after video clips of their extortion went viral on social media.
If any truck or covered van or pick-up comes to Dhaka from Narayanganj, the driver has to pay up to Tk 3,000 at police checkpoints near Matuail, at Jatrabari, Kamalapur TT Para, VIP road, Shantinagar, Rampura and Badda. Even if police find the vehicle documents okay, they will take at least Tk 200 to Tk 400 at these points. Rights campaigners said Dhaka city service bus drivers have to give Tk 800 to Tk 1,800 which is Tk 1,200 for the air conditioned buses while battery-run rickshaws drivers have to pay Tk 200 and rickshaw pullers pay up to Tk 120 daily.
Transport experts said a vicious circle has been created through this extortion system. The long-time system has created an environment in which people do not feel morally obliged to go by the law. Most unfortunate is that the government ministers are encouraging the system instead of taking a vigorous stand against it.
