Trucks stopped and charged Tk 100 each on Mirzapur road, video sparks row
Trucks are being stopped and charged money on the Gorai-Sakhipur regional road at Mirzapur in Tangail, drivers have alleged. They say Tk 100 is being taken from each truck against receipts of the district truck owners' association. A video of the collection spread on social media on Friday, sparking discussion and criticism in the area.
According to the allegations, the money was collected on the instructions of two BNP leaders. The accused are Lal Mia, also known as Kotipoti Lal Mia, president of Ward No. 4 BNP of Ajgana Union in Mirzapur upazila and general secretary of the Gorai-Hatuvanga truck owners' association, and Kabir Sikder, finance secretary of Ajgana Union BNP and vice-president of the same association.
Local sources said that on Thursday noon, Sohel and Yusuf of Beltail Shekher Chala village in Ajgana Union set out chairs on the north side of the Hatuvanga bridge on the Gorai-Sakhipur regional road and stopped trucks. They then collected Tk 100 from each truck, handing over receipts of the district truck owners' association.
Several truck drivers said they had never had to pay any money at that spot before. They said they were embarrassed and angered by the sudden practice of stopping trucks on the road to take money. Drivers also alleged they were mistreated when they objected to paying. They consider stopping vehicles on a public road to extract money in this way to be wrong.
While the money was being collected, a local journalist went to the spot and asked Sohel and Yusuf why it was being taken. Sohel claimed they were collecting the money on the instructions of local BNP leaders Lal Mia and Kabir Sikder.
Responding to the allegation, Lal Mia said: 'A committee of the truck owners' association has been given from the district. The money was raised for office expenses. It was being taken legally, following the rules.' The other accused, Kabir Sikder, said: 'I did not know about the collection. It was stopped as soon as I learned of it.'
Ajgana Union BNP president Abdul Gani Bokhari said: 'If any BNP leader in my union is involved in extortion, organisational action will be taken after discussion with upazila BNP leaders.' Tangail district truck owners' association general secretary Ashraf Paheli said he did not know about money being collected on the road, and that action would be taken against those concerned if inquiries confirmed the incident.
Tangail Roads and Highways Division executive engineer Md Shahriar Alam said there is no scope for collecting money on the road in this way and that the matter would be looked into. Mirzapur police station officer-in-charge Abdullah Al Mamun said he was not aware of the matter, and that legal action would be taken if inquiries confirmed it.
