It is worrying that extortion has taken an unbridled and terrifying form in the country.
In addition to extortion on roads and highways, uncontrolled extortion on waterways is also going on every day.
Media reports have revealed this horrific picture, where no transport worker, truck driver or boat worker is safe.There are also frequent incidents of murder.
According to the reports, extortion, beatings, and looting are rampant at every stage of the transportation of goods, at every checkpoint or in the remote river banks.
The situation has become even more distressing as the names of some dishonest police officers, political leaders, and labour organizations have been added to this.
The high level of extortion on highways has made the transport sector vulnerable.
A truck driver’s experience of paying Tk 2,750 to transport goods from Naogaon to Dhaka or the allegation of extortion of Tk 3,000 from a three-ton truck from Meherpur to Dhaka is not an isolated incident, but rather has become the norm with thousands of trucks moving daily.
The picture on the waterways is even more horrific. Organized criminal gangs are blocking boats and extorting money from them across the Meghna, Padma, Shitalakshya and Buriganga rivers. Beating workers and looting goods are all taking place openly.
The allegations of extortion of Tk 10,000 to 50,000 on trawlers or bulkheads illustrate the abnormality of this sector. Despite occasional raids by the Naval Police and Coast Guard, the overall situation has not improved.
In this situation, the directives from the headquarters are certainly positive initiatives.
However, the question is, are these directives being effectively implemented at the field level? But Roads and waterways are the lifeblood of the country’s economy.
A coordinated security system is needed on the waterways as well, instead of isolated initiatives.
If the extortionists are caught red-handed, detained, charged and tried, if these decisions are strictly implemented, the criminals will get the message.
But past experience shows that many times these initiatives remain on paper.
When these two sectors fall under the control of extortionists, everyone from farmers to traders to consumers suffers.
In particular, the additional costs on transportation of goods destabilize the market and make the lives of consumers difficult. Not only campaigns but also visible legal measures are needed to curb extortion.
Political influence, administrative corruption and the violence of criminal gangs must be tackled simultaneously.
To free the transport sector, the zero tolerance policy must be implemented in practice.
Firm, transparent and effective steps are needed now for the sake of the country’s economy and public life.
