Bus drivers being extorted in the name of toll

The leaser at Hazipur ferry terminal on the Sonatala River in the district is allegedly forcing vehicles bound for tourist spot Kuakata to pay much higher than the official toll.

Accordance to the toll chart, a passenger bus has to pay Tk 90 to cross the river on the ferry but men of leaser Md Mizanur Rahman, owner of Moushi Enterprize, are illegally collecting Tk 400 for the purpose.

"Ignoring our protest, the leaser's men forcibly realised Tk 400 from me as toll for crossing the river on Sunday morning," alleged Md Nayan, driver of Rupsa Express, a bus carrying tourists from Jessore.

He and a few other drivers showed receipts of extra charges to journalists and locals.

The leaser's men allow the ferry to start only after collecting the extra money, said the drivers.

Tourists' buses coming from different places of the country are targeted for such extortion as they cannot protest strongly, local sources said.

Meanwhile, already constructed Shaheed Sheikh Jamal Bridge on the Sonatala River waits formal opening for vehicular movement soon, said sources of Patuakhali Roads and Highways Department (RHD) office.

"Ferry service here will be stopped forever when the bridge opens. For this reason we are collecting some extra money from vehicles as per instructions of leaser Mizanur Rahman," said Abdur Rahim, toll collector of the leaser.

This correspondent contacted Mizanur Rahman, lessee of the ferry terminal, but he declined to talk to journalists on the matter.

Md Jahirul Islam, executive engineer of Patuakhali RHD, said, "We are taking steps for cancellation of his lease as the allegation of collecting extra charges has been found true."