Police and Awami League Party Men Start Collecting Tolls Jointly From Traders

In association with police, leaders and workers of different associate bodies of ruling Awami League have started collecting toll from retailers, traders, businessmen, transport owners, footpath vendors at different places in the city as well as throughout the country.(The BD Today )

These groups had remained inactive in the last seven years but soon after the formation of new government by Awami League-led grand alliance, branded criminals and extortionists belonging to Awami League's associate bodies like Chattra League, Jubo League and Sechhashebak League have become very active in collecting tolls from different points including Karwan Bazar, Farm Gate, Indira Road, Motojheel, Shahbagh, shopping malls, supermarkets, bus ticket counters and footpath hawkers everyday.

"After the death of Picchi Hannan, other extortionists had also gone into hiding and we were running our business smoothly. But soon after the formation of new government, various groups introducing themselves as the leaders and activists of Chattra League, Jubo League and Sechhashebak League have started visiting our business places and demanding tolls. Even these groups have been locked in clashes among themselves over establishing supremacy in the area. We are very much concerned and worried over such illegal toll collection from us by the associate bodies of ruling Awami League," talking to this correspondent a green vegetable wholesaler of Kawran Bazar alleged.

Talking to The Bangladesh Today other businessmen said Jubo League Office Secretary of Dhaka North (unit) Abdullah-Al-Mamun along with Awlad, Kamal, Helal, Shafique, Asad, Bashet and Rana are extorting tolls from green vegetable whole-sellers and retailers on the pretext of arranging reception programme of the newly elected Awami League MPs.

"Awami League leader Shamim Hasan, also Dhaka City Corporation Commissioner of Ward No-39, is yet to take any initiative to refrain his accomplices from collecting tolls. It is alleged that Awami League leaders are continuously holding secret meetings with the Officers-in-Charge of concerned police stations in the city for collecting and distributing tolls between themselves," the businessmen said.

The local people said Ashaduzzaman Kamal, the newly elected MP from Awami League, is embarrassed as he does not have any control over these elements. "Our local MP is an honest man but failed to control other leaders and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies," they said.

"We are paying taka 500 as per head toll to Haidar, Shahabuddin, Harun, Chunnu and Alamgir agents of Police Sergeant Maruf and the Jubo League Secretary of Ward No 99 Shah Alam regularly to continue our business. A green vegetable retailer has to pay taka 500 and tea stall and fruit shop have to pay taka 200 to the police sergeant and Jubo League leader. Simultaneously every shop owner has to pay taka 100 to the Farm Gate Police box on a regular basis. Apart from these, we pay taka 200 as rent on daily basis to the leaseholders for running our business. As a result we are compelled to sell vegetable at double rate," Dulal and Mostafa, vegetable retailers at Indira Road said.

Talking to this correspondent Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Police station Lutfor Rahman wanted to know why such question has been asked to him. "We are not alone responsible to oversee the situation in the locality. Other law enforcers including RAB, CID and DB police are also responsible to take action against such illegal activities. I will ask sergeant Maruf today (Wednesday) as to why allegations are brought against him in connection with collecting toll," he added.

The local traders said the extortionists are not coming to us directly and they usually send their agents to the business establishments for collecting toll. "No initiative to contain the crime like extortion will succeed unless the government takes action against the local influential circles who indulge in this crime through their paid terrorists."

When asked about the extortion, a highly-placed source in the police department said "our forces are working sincerely and we have given them instructions to check all types of crimes by any means. If the businessmen do not complain to us how we can take action against the extortionists."

Besides, agents of Awami League leaders and activists in groups go to bus ticket counters to collect toll from them. And they also extort money from the bus contractors when their vehicles stop at different stoppages.

City dwellers have become the main targets of the terrorists, creating a sense of insecurity among the common people. The terrorists at different places in the city are committing daring robberies every night under the very nose of law enforcers

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