Extortions rampant in Dhaka despite political changeover

Shahariar Islam Sovon :
Syed Shemul Parvez :
Extortion remains a major issue of concern on the streets of Dhaka, particularly affecting small traders, with an organised network of individuals known as “linemen” continuing to collect daily payments of taka 50 to 300 from each of thousands of hawkers and street vendors.

The scale of this illegal activity is staggering, with estimates suggesting that even on a conservative daily collection, the extortion amounts to nearly taka one crore every day-amounting to around taka 30 crore per month.

This practice has persisted for years, and despite various efforts to curb it, it continues to thrive, particularly in busy commercial areas like Kawran Bazaar, where traders have become accustomed to paying these extortionists to avoid harassment and maintain business operations.

Before political changes on August 5, the extortion rackets were reportedly run by Awami League leader Lokman Hossain, who controlled a significant portion of the Kawran Bazaar area.

His main accomplice, a junior party worker named Roni, was also actively involved. However, following Lokman’s mysterious disappearance on August 4, traders saw a shift in control of the extortion operations.

By the third day after the political change, former Jubo Dal leader and BNP figure Saiful Alam Nirob took over the extortion activities in Kawran Bazaar.

Although Nirob has remained out of the public eye, his network of party workers-led by figures such as Abdur Rahman-has continued to enforce the extortion racket.

Rahman, despite being expelled from Jubo Dal, remains a significant figure in the operation.

MA Kashem, president of the Bangladesh Hawkers Federation, highlighted the alarming scope of the extortion problem.

“There are more than one lakh hawkers in Dhaka,” he said. “These extortionists, the so-called ‘linemen’, are sucking the blood of the traders.

We are unable to do anything about it because these extortionists are shielded by local political leaders and, to some extent, law enforcement agencies.”

According to the Hawkers Federation, there are around 200,000 hawkers in the South City Corporation and 70,000 in the North City Corporation areas, making a total of 270,000 hawkers across both city corporations.

Talking to The New Nation several hawkers said there is an unofficial system of footpath leasing.

This is done by calculating the space along the road and the footpath. Separate rates are applied for stalls, carts, and mobile vendors.

Hawkers allege that police and local political leaders control this system. The entire operation is managed by “linemen.”

The busiest footpaths in Dhaka, such as those in Gulistan, New Market, Baitul Mukarram, Paltan, Motijheel, Dainik Bangla Mor, Golapshah Mazar, Zero Point, Bangabandhu Avenue, and Fulbaria, have the highest concentration of shops. Consequently, these areas are also the focal points of the highest levels of extortion.

However, there is hardly any alley or side street in Dhaka where a footpath control group is not active.

In some of the smaller streets, even a small vegetable shop is required to pay taka 200 to 300 in extortion fees every day. Hawkers claim that both the police and the linemen take the extortion money.

Recently, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has made significant strides in tackling extortion, with a notable operation in October 2024.

Six individuals were arrested in connection with extortion and fraud, and over 57 lakh taka was recovered from their possession.

The arrestees-identified as Mohammad Mohsin Munshi, Mohammad Mazharul Islam, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Tayyab, Mohammad Humayun Kabir, and Noor Mohammad-are believed to be part of a larger criminal syndicate exploiting traders across various parts of Dhaka.

In this regard, Lieutenant Colonel Munim Ferdous, the spokesperson of the elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), told The New Nation that those who are involved with extortion in the capital , we normally detect their address , location and duration of committing crimes analyzing the data and devices.

We don’t care whoever extorts or criminals. Government has given severe directives to the law enforcers to arrest the criminals without any fear and hesitation.

DMP Deputy Police Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman told The New Nation that police are fully prepared to handle any short of crime incidents including extortion in the capital.

If we get any complaint of extortion in the metropolitan areas, we will response rapidly to combat against criminals.

Our regular drives are continued to arrest the criminals including warranted accused as well as others fraudsters, he added.