Most of the drivers of humanhauliers, the main mode of transportation for residents of Khilgaon, Goran, Sipahibagh, Bashabo, Madartek and Mugda areas, do not posses driving licenses.

There are some 36 humanhauliers plying on the Gulistan-Goran-Sipahibagh route while 30 run on the Gulistan- Bashabo-Madartek route. Another 14 ply

between Gulistan and Mugda.

On each route, a committee titled Sramik-Malik Okya Parishad (Drivers-Workers Union) 'manages' the authorities so that a driver without license can move about freely.

A leader of the Parishad said: “We collect money from each human-hauler of the route and from that, pay the police sergeant at Gulistan Intersection Tk 20,000 per month. He takes care of every-

thing for us. This has been the system on all the three routes from Gulistan to the eastern part of the city for decades.”

“On this route not more than 20 veteran drivers have genuine license. All the younger ones, who once had been helpers of these vehicles, now drive without any valid permit,”

said Salu, a driver on the Gulistan-Bashabo route who added that local hoodlums are also involved

in arranging things for humanhauliers.

“Every human-hauler driver on this route has to pay extortion money in the range of Tk 200 per day at four intersections Bashabo, Khilgaon, Shahjahanpur and Gulistan to the local goons who are supposed to manage everything.”

There are some other people who are not drives or helpers but still play a major role in the

human-hauler business. They are members of a syndicate that decides who would drive the vehicles and who would assist them. These syndicate members also take money from drivers.

When his attention was drawn to the matter, Mizanur Rahman, the commissioner of traffic claimed his ignorance.

“I am not informed about it,” said Rahman.