Unauthorised toll collectors harass traders
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Our Correspondent
GOPALGANJ, Dec 15: Unauthorised toll collectors frequently harass traders at Daulatdia-Paturia ferry ghats when they (the latter) transport various goods from different southern districts to Dhaka.
The traders who make regular trips through the ghats with their perishable goods from Gopalganj, Madaripur, Barisal, Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur and other southern districts alleged that police harass them on the grounds of overloading and often demand toll.
This happens everyday, alleged one trader, who has been carrying on business for the last 27 years.
Another businessman alleged they have to pay toll or keep standing there for the rest of the day for clearance specially from October to December, the peak season for fresh vegetables, fish and other food items.
A fellow trader said, usually a loaded truck carries perishable goods worth about Tk 0.35 million (3.5 lakh).
Md Eklas, a driver of Faridpur, told this correspondent that a single trip from Bagherhat to Dhaka costs a trader between Tk 12,000 to Tk 15,000.
At each point a hundred-taka note is sufficient for transit pass, he added.
Meanwhile a police official said, the truck drivers at times overload their vehicles. It is not always possible to check such overloading at starting points. We stop vehicles at random to curb overloading.
Sometimes we are accused of accepting bribe. This is not true. They violate the rules and we are blamed for trying to curb such crime, he said.
GOPALGANJ, Dec 15: Unauthorised toll collectors frequently harass traders at Daulatdia-Paturia ferry ghats when they (the latter) transport various goods from different southern districts to Dhaka.
The traders who make regular trips through the ghats with their perishable goods from Gopalganj, Madaripur, Barisal, Khulna, Bagerhat, Pirojpur and other southern districts alleged that police harass them on the grounds of overloading and often demand toll.
This happens everyday, alleged one trader, who has been carrying on business for the last 27 years.
Another businessman alleged they have to pay toll or keep standing there for the rest of the day for clearance specially from October to December, the peak season for fresh vegetables, fish and other food items.
A fellow trader said, usually a loaded truck carries perishable goods worth about Tk 0.35 million (3.5 lakh).
Md Eklas, a driver of Faridpur, told this correspondent that a single trip from Bagherhat to Dhaka costs a trader between Tk 12,000 to Tk 15,000.
At each point a hundred-taka note is sufficient for transit pass, he added.
Meanwhile a police official said, the truck drivers at times overload their vehicles. It is not always possible to check such overloading at starting points. We stop vehicles at random to curb overloading.
Sometimes we are accused of accepting bribe. This is not true. They violate the rules and we are blamed for trying to curb such crime, he said.