Rampant extortion from sand and stone traders at different points of Sunamganj-Dhaka river route is raising the prices of the construction materials taking heavy toll on development works, traders said.
They said the price of per cubic feet (CFT) of sand and stone triples or quadruples due to extortion that takes place at more than two dozen points of the river routes. Miscreants in connivance with local influential people, administration and even a section of policemen, are extorting a huge amount from the sand and stone traders and boatmen of Sunamganj, the traders said.
“Extortionists take money from 25 to 30 points. If any boatman refused to pay money, the extortionists torture them,” Pinak Talukder, a trader of Tahirpur in Sunamganj told The Bangladesh Post.
“Sometimes they detain people on sand- and stone-carrying boats, barges or bulkheads for days to extort the demanded money,” he added. According to traders, the price of per CFT sand (red sand) varies from Tk 6 to Tk 7 in Sunamganj whereas the price in Dhaka is more than Tk 22. Per CFT stone sales in Sunamganj at Tk 60 whereas it costs over Tk 140 in Dhaka, they say.
Although, boat owners and labourers informed the local administration and police several times, they seldom take steps against the extortionists. “Local administration does not take steps against the extortionists as they get a part of the extorted money,” Pinak said, adding that police also directly take money from boats at different points.
“No trader or boat owner or boatman is allowed to operate their business in Anwarpur, Pathanpur, Durlavpur, Soala, Hagra, Fatehpur, Fazilpur, Sreepur, Mendihata, Kamalpur, Sulemanpur and Lawrargor areas in Sunamganj without paying toll to the extortionists,” another stone trader said.
During a spot visit to different upazilas of Sunamganj, this correspondent learned from local traders and boatmen their grisly experience. They alleged that police collect money from seven to eight different points taking Tk 14,000 from each trawler loaded with sand, coal or stone.
“We can’t move with our sand- or stone-loaded boat or trawler without paying toll to extortionists and policemen. If we refuse to pay, they threaten to kill us. If this (extortion) continues, it will not be possible to operate boats,” Titu, a boatman told this correspondent.
Pranesh, boatman from another trawler, said, “Earlier, robbers used to attack our boats and snatched away our money. But now, police extort huge amount of money from us.”
Apart from this, collection of toll from boats, barges, bulkheads and other water vessels at different ghats of the district is going on unabated in name of ghat toll. This correspondent found several incidents that legal leaseholders were realizing extra toll. It was found that Sreepur Bazar Boat ghat was realizing Tk 700 instead of government fixed rate Tk 200 from per boat.
Sunamganj Goods-carrying Boat Labourer Cooperative Association Ltd (known as Sunamganj Malbahi Noujan Sromik Somobai Somity Ltd) on Monday submitted an application to Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-09 and local administration alleging illegal toll collection.
In the application, secretary of the organisation Mohammad Ali Talukdar claimed that a leaseholder, Motiur Rahman, of Tahirpur Upazila in Sunamganj was taking extra money -- Tk 500 to Tk 1000 -- from per vessel.
Contacted, Tahirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Bijon Banerjee told Bangladesh Post, “We take steps against the extortionists when we get written allegations. We will also cancel the lease if we find any leaseholder collecting more toll than the government fixed rate.”
“Most of the extortion takes place at mid-river,” he added. About Motiur Rahman, he said, “He was in jail. Recently, he got release through bail and started his activities again.”
Tahirpur Upazila Chairman Karuna Sindhu Chowdhury Babul told Bangladesh Post, “Local leaders and influential people are involved in extortion here. I’m fighting them. Due to my continuous efforts, their illegal activities were limited. But, now the situation has reached beyond control.”
