Illegal toll collection from vehicles goes on unabated

Illegal toll collection from vehicles continues ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr at different points on the Lalmonirhat-Burimari Highway and some local roads in five upazilas of the district.

A group of people identified as belonging to the ruling party, with the help of some motor workers' leaders, have been collecting illegal toll from the drivers and helpers of vehicles in the name of a welfare fund for transport workers and for observing Eid. Transport workers protested strongly against the illegal toll collection at Burimari land port of Patgram upazila on Tuesday.

The collected toll money is shared among the ruling party men, said transport workers at Burimari. 

Javed Islam, a truck driver, said he was forced to pay Tk 1,500 as illegal toll on Tuesday morning. Drivers and helpers face harassment if they refuse to pay the money, he said.

"We, the drivers and helpers, are united in protesting against the illegal toll collection, but the extortionists are not afraid as they belong to the ruling party and have connections with the law enforcement agencies," said truck driver Dulal Miah.

Sabuj Miah, a local transport worker, said the illegal toll collectors collect money from at least 500 vehicles at the land port in Patgram upazila daily.

Seeking anonymity, a so-called transport workers' leader said illegal toll collection from vehicles is a very old tradition. "Many political figures are directly involved in this sector, and are getting a share from the illegally collected money," he said, adding that the extortionists never face any obstacle from law enforcement agencies as the law enforcers also benefit.  

Motahar Hossain, AL MP from Lalmonirhat-1, said he tried to stop the illegal toll collection but failed. He has ordered the police to take stern action against illegal tolls but there has been no result, the MP added.

Rezaul Karim, OC of Patgram Police Station, said police are active in resisting illegal toll collection.