Two BNP leaders ordered expelled over truck extortion on road in Tangail's Mirzapur

Two BNP leaders have been ordered expelled over an incident of extortion by stopping trucks on the Gorai-Sakhipur regional road in Mirzapur, Tangail. The upazila BNP's acting president, Advocate Abdur Rouf, gave the order at around 10pm on Friday.

Earlier, at around 8pm, Ajker Patrika's online edition published a report headlined 'Extortion by stopping trucks on road in Tangail, BNP leader says office expenses'.

After the report was published, the Prime Minister's Office phoned upazila BNP acting president Advocate Abdur Rouf. He was told to verify the allegation and, if it proved true, to expel the two accused leaders immediately.

The leaders ordered expelled are Lal Mia, alias 'Kotipati Lal Mia', president of ward No. 4 BNP in Azgana union of Mirzapur upazila and general secretary of the Gorai-Hatubhanga Truck Owners' Association, and Kabir Sikder, finance secretary of Azgana union BNP and vice-president of the same truck owners' association.

Advocate Abdur Rouf said the Prime Minister's Office called and asked him to verify the truth of the incident. After making enquiries, the allegation was found to be true. The order to expel the two leaders from the party was then given at around 10pm.

Earlier, on Thursday afternoon, two men named Sohel and Yusuf set up chairs on the north side of the Hatubhanga bridge, stopped trucks and collected 100 taka from each truck.

When a video of the incident spread on social media on Friday, criticism began. Sohel and Yusuf later told journalists that they were collecting the money on the instructions of Lal Mia and Kabir Sikder.

Drivers alleged that 100 taka per truck was being taken using receipts of the district truck owners' association.