Small traders, especially fish, fruits, vegetables and traders and food vendors, are facing a surge in extortion demands by a section of corrupt law enforcers and different political elements to do their business in the capital.
Sources said small traders and footpath hawkers usually set up makeshift shops occupying footpaths, city streets or besides kitchen markets illegally. Police and local political elements take it as an opportunity and collect toll from them on a regular basis.
Although there are no specific statistics on how many small traders set up their makeshift shops on the streets or besides kitchen markets, their number is said to be around 50,000.
Extortion in different parts of the city, including Mirpur, Uttara, Gulshan, Dhanmondi, Old Dhaka, Motijheel, Paltan, Shahabagh, Karwan Bazar, Khilgaon, University Market at Kataban, New Market, Chandrima Supermarket, Badruddoza Supermarket and Farm Gate areas has been going on unabated.
A number of small traders alleged that local police personnel usually collect toll in the name of police officers, especially officer-in-charge (OC), patrol inspector (PI) and traffic inspector (TI), in their respective areas.
The traders denied disclosing their names fearing that they might fall in trouble in the future.
Allegations are also there activists of the ruling party and its associate bodies usually collect toll on weekly and monthly basis.
Besides, the small traders and shop owners also have to pay toll to the political elements on many occasions. “Even, they force us to join their political programmes,” said a small shop owner wishing anonymity.
Talking to the UNB correspondent, Abdul Jalil (not his real name) of Mirpur-12, said he sets up his small mobile shop to sell ‘kabab’ in the afternoon. “For this, I have to pay Tk 3,000 to a local political activist every month. Besides, I have to pay Tk 20 to police every day,” he alleged.
Another trader, who sells fruits at Gulshan-2 circle, said he has to pay Tk 20 every day to police.
Another roadside shop owner at Uttara Azampur said he has to pay around TK 200-300 to police every week to continue his business. “It’s a problem for me as I’ve to run my family with the earnings that come from this shop,” he said adding, “We live under constant stress.”
Small traders have to pay Tk 10,000-100,000 as ‘salami’ to the local influential political leaders and police for setting up their makeshift shops on footpaths in Uttara area, especially on footpaths near Maskat Plaza of Rabindra Sarani of Azampur. They have to pay Tk 100-300 a day regularly, alleged a local trader of the area.
Police often conduct eviction drives on footpaths only to be reallocated to the small traders and hawkers for running their business again, he said.
Asked about extortion by cops, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan said, “I don’t know whether police are involved in extortion, I’ll look into the matter, if any specific allegation is found and then action will be taken.”
Contacted, Deputy Commissioner (Detective Branch, Public Relations) Masudur Rahman said there are some designated places in the capital where hawkers are allowed to sell their products during a particular time of the day.
He said the authorities will take action if anyone lodges any specific complaint in this regard.
Source: UNBConnect
