Extortion by police from different vehicles including buses and trucks in the transport sector is noting new. These illegal activities have been continuing since long. An intelligence agency of the government conducted a countrywide investigation recently to find out who among the cops, where and how, commit the extortion. After investigation the intelligence agency prepared a detail report containing the list of regular extortion in the transport sector across the country and submitted the report to the home ministry. The ministry of home affairs has submitted the list to the police headquarters to take action against the perpetrators. The names and identity of 194 cops allegedly engaged in extortion have been mentioned in the intelligence report. This list includes inspector to constable. Among them thana police are also there alongside the traffic police. The report said over 200 brokers are engaged in collecting the tolls for cops. The report further said due to this extortion by cops, bus owners raise the bus fare and cause sufferings to the passengers. Specially during Eid and Puja the sufferings intensify unbearably. Besides, due to rise in truck fare because of extortion the prices of commodities also soar and the consumers have to pay for it. The intelligence report said unbridled extortion creates a negative impression in the public mind about the government’s role in managing transport sector. Some recommendations were submitted by the intelligence report to introduce a system to monitor the activities of the police officials involved in the extortion. Besides, departmental action against the delinquent officials was recommended. The local agents and brokers who help the officials realise extortion should be brought to justice. Asked about the Home Ministry’s order to take action against delinquent officials, Inspector General of Police Hasan Mahmud Khandker told Kaler Kantho “I cannot make any comment on the allegation of extortion at this moment. I need to be confirmed.” He, however, said allegation against anybody is taken very seriously. The accused person faces legal action if found guilty, he added. The intelligence report shows Traffic Inspector (TI) Md Farhad Hossain allegedly commits extortion in Savar while Murad Ahmed in Hemayetpur-Aminbazar. The two TIs assigned local people Momin, Abul Hossain and Momin-2 to collect Tk 50-100 from each vehicle daily. When contacted over phone, Farhad Hossain rejected the allegation. “Whether I am involved in the offence should be investigated. If I am found guilty, I should be punished.” He said he does not know the brokers mentioned in the intelligence report. Sergeant Shah Alam, SI Abdul Aziz, PSI Abul Kalam, Constable Makbul Hossain, Sahabuddin, Sohrab and Mujibur are allegedly involved in collecting money from buses and trucks at Kadamtali Gol Chokkor in Keraniganj. Sergeant Bashar, Sergeant Hamid, Constable Shahidul and Borhan are allegedly involved in extortion at Manikganj bus stand. Local people Rafik Mia, Md Borhan Mia, Polash and Fazlur are used as helping hand in this crime. At the Paturia Ghat area, BIWTA senior terminal super Abdus Sattar and assistant Jamal collects extortion from the vehicles. They sometimes take Tk 1,000 instead of Tk 740 from pickups as ferry fare. When contacted, Abdus Sattar refused to have committed extortion. “I am group leader. How can I take extra money?” Traffic Inspector Md Siddikur Rahman, Traffic Sergeant Mahbubur Rahman, TSI Md Yunus, Havildar Joinal, Constable Abu Khalek and Mahtab Uddin allegedly commit extortion from passenger buses and goods-laden vehicles at Khoarpar Mor at Sherpur district, Sheri Bridge Mor, Thana Mor, Madaniganj Bridge and CNG Filling Station areas. They appointed eight local brokers Md Aslam of Sherpur Sadar, Md Mosharraf Hossain Bulbul, Mustak Ahmed, Mukti, Farhat Hossain, Rupon and Manju Mia. A number of 10-12 police men are assigned at night to control dacoity in the area covering 25km from Rashulpur at Muktagacha Upazila under Mymensingh to Madhupur Upazila of Tangail. The police from Madhupur Police Thana and Alokdia Police Outpost are assigned to this duty. They allegedly collect Tk 200-500 from every vehicle. The extortion is committed at the behest of Madhupur Thana OC Mojibur Rahman’s order. He rejected allegation against him, saying the police men are assigned to fend off any untoward incident in the forest area. He wanted to know whether the OC collects extortion money of his own. The intelligence report further said police commit extortion at Chorpara Mor at Mymensingh and Chowrasta Mor at Nandail. Allegation has been brought against TSI Abdur Razzak and Constable Jahangir. They allegedly realise Tk 200 from each truck. Like others, Abdur Razzak rejected allegation against him. He said they are busy with managing vehicles and they have no time to collect illegal money. According to the intelligence report, police are engaged in collecting extortion from buses and trucks from Mograpara, near Kanchpur bridge of Narayanganj to Meghnaghat. Traffic police and Thana police are also engaged in similar activity at different points of Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka- Sylhet highways. Police assigned some persons of Sonargaon named Nazrul Khan alias Dakat Nazrul, Shahabuddin, Ashraf and many others as their brokers. Police are engaged in extortion at Mawa Ghat in Lauhajang and a place between Meghna Bridge of Gazaria Upazila and Daudkandi Bridge. They are engaged in extortion at old launch ghat of Dhaleswari river of Munshiganj sadar upazila, police phari (outpost) and adjacent areas of Muktarpur Bridge. It has been mentioned in the report that the in-charge of Mawa ghat police outpost Khandakar Khalid Hasan engaged in transport extortion. Asked about this involvement, Khaled Hasan said, “The allegation is not true. Someone may make this allegation mistakenly.” It has also mentioned in the intelligence report that Maksudur Rahman Titu, Shah Alam, Golum Mawla, Abul Kalam Azad, Abul Kashem of Comilla town, Kamal and Habib of Daudkandi, Abdur Rashid of Chandina and Hiron Hossain of Chauddagram are allegedly engaged as brokers in transport extortion in Comilla area. SI Mamun, ASI Ajit Babu and Indrajit are engaged in extortion at Chauddagram’s CNG and bus stand and Miar Bazar bus stand areas. Allegation has also been made against ASI Lutfar Rahman and SI Khorshed Alam for their involvement in extortion at Laksham bazar bus stand area. In addition, OC Moshiur Rahman, SI Emdadul Haque and constable Shahen are involved in extortion at Comilla Cantonment bus stand area. Allegation also made against SI Hasibur Rahman for his involvement in extortion at Chandina bus stand and Iliyotganj bus stand. The report also said that police are engaged in extortion in Begumganj Chowrasta of Noakhali, Chowmuhani Purba Bazar Zore Bridge and adjacent area of Zaman hotel of Begumganj. The intelligence report mentioned that police take extortion from all transports from the area of Tin Matha More (intersection) and rail-gate of Pachbibi sadar and Pachur More and Batar More of Joypurhat sadar. Joypurhat sadar police station’s OC Md Abdur Rashid, OC of Akkelpur police station Md Abul Kalam Azad and police sergeant Md Mahbubur Rashid are allegedly involved. They have employed Golum Mostofa, Zahurul Islam and Suman Kumar Shaha as the brokers said the report. Apart from these, extortion of different district and upazila are also described in the report. Courtesy: Kaler Kantho
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