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Truckers victims of rampant extortion by cops

IMRUL HASAN
Truck drivers pay the traffic police Tk 100 to 500 in toll at different points in the city, sources in the Bangladesh Truck Drivers Union (BTDU) alleged.
“The amount of the bribe is fixed and the drivers are forced to pay it even they have all legal documents,” said a union leader, requesting anonymity.
The cops check the documents including driving licence, route permit and fitness certificate and if the drivers fail to produce any paper, the amount of extortion increases.
High officials of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, however, denied the allegation and said they only file cases for violation of traffic rules and possessing fake documents.
Trucks carrying various goods usually enter the capital through four points -- Gabtoli, Tongi Bridge, Jatrabari and Postogola -- where the toll collection starts.
The traffic police collect the fixed amount at about 40 points in the city that include Sayedabad, Dainik Bangla intersection,
Gulistan, English Road intersection, Fulbaria, Shahbagh, Sonargaon intersection, Shyamoli, Asad Gate, Farm Gate, Kalyanpur, Airport, Bishwa Road, Maghbazar, Kakrail, Mohakhali and Bijoy Sarani.
Sources said the four entry points of the capital are the most lucrative places for a traffic police and most of them want to be deployed there. They even bribe the higher officials so that they are deployed at these points.
The collected tolls are distributed among officials of different tiers -- from traffic sergeants to deputy commissioners, sources in the union said.
“The more strict is the law, the more opportunity for the police to take bribe,” said Mahfuzur Rahman, vice president of Bangladesh Truck Drivers Union. Rahman has been into this profession for the last three decades.
Sources in Bangladesh Interdistrict Truck Drivers Association (BITDA) claimed it is mandatory for them to pay the bribe when they enter the city.
“When we bargain with them to reduce the toll amount, some po-licemen say they have got this posting paying several lakh taka. So they have to get it back,” said a truck driver.
“Highway police are to curb
extortion, mugging and robbery but they themselves are involved in extortion,” he said.
According to BTDU and BITDA around 30,000 trucks now ply through Dhaka.
An on-duty police officer at
Bishwa Road intersection denied the allegation and said: “If trucks carrying illegal goods are caught we
seize them. If drivers fail to show proper documents, we take actions according to the traffic rules.”
But the truck drivers say they are often harassed despite possessing valid documents.
“If I do not pay the toll, the police will file cases against me showing lame excuses that will cost more than the amount of bribe,” said another truck driver who came to Karwan Bazar from Jessore carrying vegetables.
“If the police officers come to know that I have complained about it, they will increase the amount of bribe or seize my truck,” he feared.
Asked, a traffic sergeant at Farm Gate requesting anonymity said: “We fine the truck drivers only for violating rules, we don't charge if they have legal documents.”
SM Mizanur Rahman, the commissioner of DMP, however denied the allegation. “We file cases against vehicles if traffic rules are violated. We seize vehicles for plying without route permits,” he said.
“We have never received any complaint against any police officer taking bribe from truck drivers. We will go for action if there is any specific complaint,” he added.