Extortion in broad daylight

My office is in Motijheel. After getting dropped by the bus around 10:00am near Bijoynagar, I have to cross the road and walk some distance to my office building.

For the last couple of days, I have had to be extra alert. On at least three occasions in the past one week, I have found female snake-charmer groups lurking in the area around this time.

Their method is simple. They silently walk up to pedestrians, surround him or her and demand money while threatening them with the little boxes in their hands. The boxes have little snakes in them. If the victim does not pay up soon, the boxes are opened and the snake is displayed. The fear usually drives the victim to pay up.

I have had this experience a few times in the past. That is why I am extra vigilant while walking on the road. It helps me to steer clear of these groups.

But there are plenty of others including women and young students from schools and colleges who cannot be so quick in thinking and acting. They usually have to give out any amount ranging from Tk. 50 to as much as Tk. 200.

Often traffic police and on-duty police personnel standing nearby do not say anything to these groups despite witnessing the incidents.

I hope law enforcing agencies will take some measures against these extortionist groups.

Akibul Javed,

Indira Road, Dhaka