Highway robberies and extortions

Rising incidence of extortions, thefts and robberies on the highways are affecting business activities across the country ahead of ensuing Eid-ul Azha. Business leaders are deeply worried. Not only the highway robbers, but also a section of local extortionists are reportedly involved in such crimes. The highway police allegedly collect tolls from buses and trucks. Their activities are very much visible on the eve of Eid-ul Fitr and Eid-ul Azha - the two major festivals of the country. At a recent views-exchange meeting session with the high-ups of the home ministry and the police administration, the representatives of businesses dwelt at length on how their activities were being affected by highway robberies and extortionists in the past couple of years and how transport costs multiply due to extortions on the highways. It may be mentioned here that the country's highway police are very ill-equipped to tackle highway crimes. They do not have the necessary logistics including vehicles. A few cars were procured several years back in the name of highway police. But those were later withdrawn from the highways and made available to police officials in Dhaka. In fact, the policemen belonging to nearby police stations are generally employed to patrol a few spots of major highways and the long stretches remain vulnerable to crimes of all types. At a recent meeting, two cabinet ministers - Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Food and Disaster Management Minister Abdur Razzak - observed that the country's economic growth could have been much higher if the bribes and extortions in government offices, down to kitchen markets, could be checked. Both acknowledged that the extortions on highways by goons with political links as well as law enforcers add to the transport costs and contribute immensely to commodity price hikes. Such sincere acknowledgement points to the urgent need for stopping this menace. Indeed, increased incidents of reckless extortion through the supply chain are making vegetables and other essentials costlier in city markets. Extortion is a new phenomenon in highway transportation and of late, such incidents have increased in alarming proportions. Intelligence agencies have also reported these incidents to the authorities concerned. The food minister recently quoted reports of the intelligence agencies when he was divulging incidents of extortion at a high level meeting. He said a truck owner got only Tk 7000 for a trip to Mymensingh from Jessore, although it was pre-settled at Tk. 28,000. The rest Tk. 21,000 had to be paid as extortion, he said. When a minister points a finger at the inherent weakness of relevant government agencies in containing the incidents of extortion, the government should definitely wake up to the distress call. Due to rampant extortions at different points of highway, prices of vegetable and other essential commodities are not coming down. The price gap between growers' level and retail markets in the city is very wide. For example, brinjal bought at Tk. 15 per kg at growers level is sold at Tk 40 in city retail outlets. Traders make profit even after paying fabulous amount of money as toll. In both ways, the farmers and the city dwellers are being cheated by extortionists and a section of dishonest traders. Commerce Minister Faruk Khan issued many veiled threats against the highway extortions and a tendency of some traders towards 'excessive' profiteering. He did not, however, spell out what specific punitive measures would be taken if the traders in question do not comply. Will he go for random arrests? Or, will he opt for slapping penalty en masse? Past experiences suggest that when there were such actions, essential goods vanished from the stores and the traders went in hiding. Artificial crisis of some essential foods left a knock-out effect on the consumers who, even offering high amount of money, failed to purchase those. This is disastrous. The government has to think twice if it goes for taking such actions. Extortionists are back at the bus terminals as well with full force after a halt of more than two years. They are reportedly collecting tolls in the names of ruling party men and law enforcers. According to reports, their presence at various terminals is so strong that the members of law enforcing agencies appear helpless in containing their activities. Sometimes, they (law enforcers) play the role of mute spectators. For failing to give toll to the extortionists, some business leaders were gunned down in broad day light in the city a few days back. Apart from some simple arrests, law enforcers could not make any headway into the gruesome murders. Extortion is spreading in the metropolis in another form. Reports say hundreds of extortionists are creating panic among the business people in the metropolis over mobile and land phones. According to police, they are targeting business and affluent families for extortion and kidnappings. Many of the employees and relatives of the business people have been shot or kidnapped over extortion demands. As the cases of robberies and extortions are on rise on the highways, the situation demands a well-orchestrated government strategy. The administration, especially the police, has to be allowed to work neutrally, without any interference from any powerful lobby. Respect for law should be restored fully. And the home minister has to perform a challenging task in this respect. The Prime Minister issued a stern note of warning against the extortionists. Addressing a recent meeting, she said if any leader, activist or lawmaker of the ruling party is found involved in extortion, they will be expelled from the party. Such announcement could be taken as an indication of her commitment to go tough on extortionists. One hopes that the Prime Minister's assertion would have the desired impact this time around and instigate decisive demonstrative actions against extortions and extortionists. With a view to curbing criminal activities, the police administration should be kept above politics so that they can perform their duties in protecting people's life and property effectively and independently. The government needs to set up close circuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic points and strengthen highway patrol to check snatching and robbery on the highways. The number of police outposts should be increased and activities of community policing to be strengthened further to root out drug dealers. It is also essential to speed up the activities of coast guards in the Bangladesh maritime zone to successfully curb the activities of the pirates as a number of fishermen in recent times have been detained and tortured by the criminals. Strict vigilance should also be enforced to stop smuggling in the country's bordering areas. It is thus expected that the leaders and activists backing the ruling party would keep themselves aloof from the perpetrators of extortion. In the process, the law enforcing agencies should be encouraged to freely go after the criminals, regardless of the political links or backing. szkhan@dhaka.net