S1RAJGANJ. April 3:

The extortionists have lieen active in Nagarbari Hogra-Dina|pur road in Siralganj.bin-dering sindoth plying of vehicles carrying lertilizers and fuel. Tolls are being collected forcibly from the truck drivers, tanklorries and even from rickshaws, rickshaw vans and tempos carrying goods.

It is learnt from Md Naosher Ali. General Secretary of Baghabari Ghat Tanklorry Transport Workers' Union that unruly youths snatched away money from the driver of Tanklorry No Dhaka Ta 3060 while coming back from Jald-haka in Nilphaihari district after unloading fuel on last March 19 On the same day, ‘Tankiorry No Bogra Ta 6721 was damaged at Majhira on way to Bogra from Baghabari ghat when the driver refused do pay tolls.

The workers union alleged that the extortionists are ac*' live at different points of Na* garbari-Bogra highway includ* • mg Uflapara.' Bhuyangahtil Chandaikona in Siraiganj disi trict and Majhira. Mahastan-garh. Mohamtala. GobindaganX Palashbari. Fashitala. Katakhah bridge. Kamarpur. DhperhatJ Pirganj. Thaldighi. Mitha: pukur. Bara Dargha and Math-’ bari in Bogra an^l Gaibandhd districts. The extortionists collect tolls putting barricadd on the North Bengal highway. The officials of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation at Baghabari Ghat have sent mes} sages to the Divisional Commissioner and Deputy Inspec-: tor General (DIG) of Police. Ra‘ jshahi to ensure security on the highways.

Visiting Baghabari Glial oil depots of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) il was revealed from the oij companies that one crora metric tons of diesel 'including 20 lakh metric tons in pipe line remain stock at' Baghabari depots. It smooth movement of tanklorries are ensured by in-] .tensifying security measure* on Nagarbari-Bogra highway t here will be no crisis of fuel In the northern zone.