This newspaper on Friday reported that the streets of Dhaka, bustling with life and commerce, are marred by a troubling reality: the rampant extortion plaguing small traders and hawkers.
An organised network of extortionists, known as “linemen,” continues to extract daily payments from thousands of vendors, amounting to an astonishing estimated total of nearly one crore taka each day.
This systemic exploitation, which has persisted for years, not only undermines the livelihoods of countless individuals but also tarnishes the integrity of local governance and law enforcement.
The recent political shifts in Bangladesh have only exacerbated the situation.
This transition highlights a troubling continuity in the power dynamics of extortion, where political affiliations dictate the operations of these illegal activities.
The involvement of local political leaders and law enforcement in facilitating or turning a blind eye to these extortion practices raises serious questions about accountability and governance.
The report echoing the president of the Bangladesh Hawkers Federation, aptly describes the plight of traders, stating that these “so-called linemen” are “sucking the blood” of the very individuals who contribute to the city’s economy.
With an estimated 270,000 hawkers operating across Dhaka, the scale of this issue is staggering.
The unofficial leasing of footpaths, controlled by both police and political figures, creates a vicious cycle of dependency and fear among traders, who feel compelled to pay extortion fees to sustain their businesses.
While the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has made commendable efforts to combat extortion, including recent arrests linked to a larger criminal syndicate, these actions must be part of a more comprehensive strategy.
Law enforcement must not only respond to individual incidents but also address the systemic issues that allow extortion to thrive.
The government must take decisive action to dismantle the networks of corruption that enable this exploitation.
As citizens of the Dhaka community, we cannot ignore the suffering of the city’s traders.
The government, alongside local authorities, must advocate for the protection of vulnerable populations against such predatory practices.
Only through concerted efforts can we hope to restore dignity and fairness to the streets of our capital, Dhaka, ensuring that all traders can operate without fear of harassment and extortion.
