Illegal extortion in the country’s road and water transport sectors continues unabated, with operators alleging that collections are still being made openly in the name of associations, tolls, and political influence.
A video that went viral on Friday shows two young men in a mini-trawler intercepting a moving bulkhead on the Padma River in Naria upazila of Shariatpur shortly after Jummah prayers. In the footage, one of the youths boards the bulkhead, collects money from crew members, and quickly returns to the trawler before leaving the scene. A voice heard in the video claims the money was being taken as extortion.
Industry insiders say such collections from water vessels are not new.
President of the Bangladesh Bulkhead Boat Owners’ Association Mohammad Tofazzal Hossain Badal told the Daily Sun that extortion from bulkheads remains widespread.
He alleged that extortionists are particularly desperate in Hizla of Barishal and Chandpur.
Badal further claimed that during previous Awami League tenures, water vessels travelling from Sylhet to Dhaka had to make payments at around 15 points along the route – a practice he says continues to this day.
Additional Inspector General of Police Kusum Dewan, who heads the River Police, said authorities occasionally receive complaint.
