Extortion from markets, footpaths, and bus-truck terminals in the capital and other parts of the country has drastically decreased amid attempts by a new group to flex their muscles and reoccupy the vacuum left by extortionists since the August 5 political changeover.
Traders in the capital and other districts said that though nobody had come seeking tolls from them in the past few days, they had noticed tension between some groups who had been trying to establish their control over illegal activities in the changed scenario.
City footbaths, kitchen markets, buses and other terminals, and public transport like buses and rickshaws, among others, were once the main sources of extortion.
Extortion from hawkers for doing business on footpaths and roads in Dhaka city by a nexus comprised of police, city corporation officials, and Awami League leaders and activists was an everyday matter.
Apart from some local leaders and activists of the Awami League and its associate bodies, a section of the police were also involved in the extortion.
In the changed circumstances, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its associate bodies are allegedly trying to grab the spaces left void by the Awami League people after the ouster of the Hasina-led government, with the leaders and activists of the party going into hiding places.
Adviser to the interim government for home, M Sakhawat Hossain, warned extortionists and instructed them to break the legs of those involved in extortion.
鈥業 have told the army chief that if anyone is engaged in such activities, break their legs. It won鈥檛 be good if I hear such things,鈥� he stated while addressing journalists鈥� questions at the secretariat on Sunday.
In the Motijheel area, Hawkers alleged that when聽 AL was in power, its front organization, the Juba League鈥檚 Motijheel unit, acting president Md Jamal, controlled the extortion, but now Motijheel Thana Juba Dal president Nayan Miah took control of the illegal activities.
They said that the Nayan group locked the Boishakhi Market on August 6 but again unlocked it on August 9 as the local businessmen complained to the Army.
They said that Nayan had yet to send anyone to collect the toll but was establishing control over the area.
Jamal admitted that he used to collect tolls but added that now he was living far away from the illegal task, and Nayan was trying to create panic in the area.
Nayan disconnected the phone when he was asked for a comment on the allegation.
In the capital鈥檚 Palton, JL activist Delower Hossain Joy was ousted by JD leaders Tipu and Enamul Haque Dolan. In Shahbagh, JL鈥檚 Ward No 20 president, Md Shahabuddin, was ousted by JD supporter Md Rafiq.
Dolan said that hawkers have been making trouble for pedestrians and transport for years.
鈥業 did not claim any toll from anyone. I want the footpath to be clean,鈥� he said.
He claimed that AL supporter Md Alamgir used to collect tolls from the businesses, but he would not give them any more chances at that.
In every area in the capital, each hawker, who runs businesses on roads or footpaths, is forced to give money amounting between Tk 200 and Tk 1,000 to extortionists, depending on the place.
Rabiul Islam, a laguna driver from Mirpur to Farmgate, said that toll collection has remained suspended for the past week. He suspected the new group would replace the old one, which was currently run by Faridur Rahman Khan Iran, the local councillor.
In Ashulia, on the outskirts of the capital, Dhamsona union AL president Abdul Latif Mandal used to collect tolls from vendors on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway.
However, BNP leader and Dhamsona union ex-chairman Md Gafur Miah now took control.
Gafur said that the hawkers came to him asking for permission to continue business, but he did not support them because of the Army.
鈥楲et the situation come under control. I will consider it later,鈥� said Gafur.
In Bhola, extortions are carried out by the Awami League鈥檚 youth leader, Juba League president Moniruzzaman Monir, also the mayor of Bhola Municipality.
The mayor鈥檚 close aides, including Mushfiqur Rahman, Zahirul Islam Bhutto, and Abdul Sattar Sabuj, were used to collecting money.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina, several BNP leaders, including district unit member secretary Raisul Alam and his three brothers, Yarul Alam Liton, Jahirul Islam Ripon, and Nezamul Alam Zihad, allegedly established control over it.
Raisul, however, denied the allegation.
Bhola district BNP joint convener Harunur Rashid Truman allegedly took money from big businessmen in the district, locals said.
Tarikul Islam Quayed, brother of former district BNP secretary Aminul Islam Khan, was also involved in taking extortion from the traders, they alleged.
Asked about the extortion, Bhola district superintendent of police, Md Mahiduzzaman, said that the kitchen markets and fish markets were leased out by the mayor of the municipality.
鈥榃e cannot take action before getting specific allegations from victims about extortions,鈥� the SP added.聽
