Thousands of vehicles that ply to and from Chittagong and Cox's Bazar, and other parts of south Chittagong had to go through an ordeal everyday.

The popularly abbreviated name of this routine ordeal is 'Token System Extortion'. A section of police, traffic police indeed, are allegedly the protagonists in this

dishonest highway business.

Reports have it that, they extort over Tk. One lakh daily as 'token' money from vehicles of 17 routes. They dare not to do this even under clear sunlight.

For the 'victim' drivers on the routes, the two most vulnerable spots are the 'entrance' of Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Bridge and the 'Monosar Tek' intersection in Patiya. All transports including

bus, truck, microbus, minibus, pickup, jeep and tempo had to have their clearance (token) from the on-duty policemen by paying money. The tokens are of different categories 'daily', 'weekly' and 'monthly.' The extortion rate differs on the basis of this category.

However, some sources said transport drivers are generally required to collect two types of tokens compulsorily by paying fixed

minimum amount of Tk.200 for 'Highway Token' and Tk.300 for 'Red Token.' These tokens are considered as visas of the drivers to get pass the 'blockade' of police.

Sources said, extortion money is being realised everyday at the northern entrance of Shah Amanat Bridge by some cops on duty there by turns. Usually smaller vehicles fall victims to token extortion here, as they use this bridge to avoid the heavy rush and jam on the Kalurghat Railway Bridge.

It is learnt that even the vehicles having legal and proper documents are also compelled to collect token paying Tk.200, while the transports without such documents need to collect compulsorily the 'Red' token worth Tk.300 at this point of Shah Amanat Bridge.

Besides, the vehicle that plies irregularly through this bridge had to pay extortion of Tk.200 to Tk.500, sources said. In 'Monosar Tek' point under Patiya upazila, the drivers are to collect tokens worth Tk.200 from the district sergeant, sources said.

However, the extortion in terms of volume of money is the highest from microbus services that ply to and from Bahaddarhat Terminal in Chittagong and Chokoria Terminal in Cox's Bazar. Some few hundred microbuses use this route everyday.

Meanwhile, on-duty cops of Patiya, Chandanaish, Satkania, Lohagara and Chokoria thana, and of Chunati, Harbang, Baniarchhara check posts also allegedly extort Tk. 500 to Tk.5000 from vehicles commuting everyday on Chittagong-Cox's Bazar highway.

Sources alleged that the drivers who refuse to pay token money, are harassed by policemen. Police often threaten the drivers of implicating in false cases, they added.