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Rampant extortion from bus counters

Fake workers' union, owners' association active, counters attacked for not paying toll

Mukhlesur Rahman
Local goons under the banner of fake union of transport workers and owners' association are realising extortions from different bus counters in the capital.
These gangs mainly extract money from the buses plying the city streets and if denied the counters come under attack.
Officials of different bus companies said they have to pay around Tk 250 to 300 for a bus each day to the extortionists. The criminals operate at different points in the capital.
Moreover, Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Samity (DSPS), parent organisation of the bus owners and a government-recognised association, fixedTk 70 for each bus as service charge, which is collected by its associated bodies from the counters across the city.
An office bearer of the Association of Bus
Companies (ABC) seeking anonymity said bus companies don't enjoy any facilities from DSPS or bus terminals or any transport workers' unions but they are forced to pay the toll.
"Some local hoodlums in the name of ruling party men launched several attacks on bus counters in Azimpur areas a few weeks back as they did not meet their demand.
“A workers' organisation also sent letters to different bus companies identifying them as accomplices of those gangsters to meet their demands," he added.
ABC, which is yet to get registration, is the father organisation of bus companies operating in the city and its outskirts.
ABC sources said around 3,000 buses of about 80 bus companies run on different routes in the capital.
Officials of the bus companies said they
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hawta pay.tolkTroui,almost, all the bus counters but the counters at Fulbaria, Mirpur, Farmgate, Azimpur, Mohammadpur, Khilgaon have to count more than those of other areas.
They said the companies have to pay around Tk 300 for each bus per day at Fulbaria.
Officials of a good number of bus companies said their employees very often fall victims to so-called unions and associations on the roads.
Citing a recent example they said three youths in the name of ruling party men boarded a bus from the Science Lab counter and severely beat up the helper of the bus as he asked for tickets.
Officials of the company said they talked to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque and the DSPS authorities to exempt the bus companies from Tk 70 fixed by DSPS as service charge for each bus per day.
They said the DMP commissioner agreed in principle with their proposal but he has not issued any letter so far in this regard even after repeated requests from their end.
Contacted, DMP Commissioner Shahidul told The Daily Star that no bus
company is a victim to extortion and transport sector is free from extortion now.
Earlier in the first half of July a 19-member committee headed by DMP joint commissioner (traffic) was formed with the representatives from police, transport owners and transport workers' leaders to check extortion in the transport sector but to no avail.