A vegetable trader through an agency hired a truck for Tk18,000 for transporting a consignment of 3,000 cauliflowers and cabbages from Phulpur in Dinajpur to Konabari in Gazipur a week ago.

Truck driver Mohammad Selim of Gazipur revealed the startling fact behind the excessive fare for a distance of about 313kms.

He said he had to pay Tk4,000 to the renting agency named ‘Truck Bhara Gazipur’, around Tk2,000 as extortion at different points, Tk1,000 as toll for the Jamuna Bridge, Tk5,000 as fuel cost and Tk100-150 to policemen apart from road line costs.

After paying Tk3,000 as deposit to the truck owner and meeting their expenses, Selim and his helper shared the remaining amount among them, which too little, he said.

Selim said about Tk2,000-2,500 has to be paid as extortion for a single trip from the northern part of the country. “If the truck is to reach Jatrabari or Karwan Bazar of the capital, additional Tk300-400 has to be paid.”

The extortion is collected in the names of taxes of municipalities, city corporations, line costs and unloading costs at arats, he said, adding that if the extortion is not paid, the truck is not allowed to move while abuses are hurled at drivers and they are also tortured in many cases.

“Extortion is collected at different points of Kushtia, Bogura, Jamalpur, Mymensingh and Dhaka,” the truck driver said.

Another truck driver, Mohammad Raju of Savar in Dhaka, told the Daily Sun that extortion is mostly collected at different points in Greater Barishal and the capital’s Dhaka South City Corporation areas.

Without paying extortion, no truck and lorry can ply the routes, he said.

Muhibul and Mominul, two truck drivers hailing from Ekuria in Keraniganj on the outskirts of the capital, also echoed Selim and Raju.

Extortion on roads and highways has increased the transportation cost which has ultimately led to the rise in prices of vegetables even in the peak season, said a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer.

The commission charged by the renting agency in the name of service is nothing but extortion, said the sources.

Superintendent of Police (Media and Public Relations) at the Police Headquarters Enamul Haque Sagor told the Daily Sun that police are always active against extortionists.

“If extortion is collected from goods-laden trucks and lorries on roads anywhere in the country and it comes to the notice of police, legal action will be taken,” he said.

Members of RAB-2 and RAB-3 arrested 51 extortionists from Karwan Bazar, Babu Bazar, Gulistan, Dainik Bangla Mor, Ittefaq Mor, Titipara, Kajla, Gabtoli and Demra Staff Quarters of the capital on Saturday night when they were collecting extortion from goods-laden trucks.

Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director (Legal and Media) of the RAB Headquarters, at a press briefing on Sunday said the force members seized huge receipts for collecting extortion from the arrestees.

RAB-4 also arrested 12 extortionists from Savar in Dhaka and Manikganj.

Moin said several groups who claim them as leaseholders used to collect extortion from trucks, lorries and other vehicles through the arrested men.

Tk200-300 was taken from each truck or lorry, he said, adding that Tk600 was paid to each of the extortion collector as daily wage.

Of the arrestees, Salim used to lead a group at Ittefaq and Sayedabad while Rajib another group at Golapbagh, Kawser at Kajla, Javed at Demra Staff Quarters, Mohsin at Gulistan and Babu Bazar, Jahir at Karwan Bazar and Salauddin led another group at Gabtoli.