Extortion causes anarchy in public transports

Illegal toll collection from public transports in the city by a group of people belonging to different pro-government workers organizations has now become rampant ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the largest festivals of Muslims, causing an anarchic situation.
The transport sector has now become a hostage to toll collectors, while passengers pay for this. Experts claimed that, anarchy on streets will not stop, if the syndicate of illegal toll collectors continues its evil practice.
Sources said, a section of transport owners and workers under the shelter of incumbent government has been controlling the road transport sector for long putting the generalpeople at trouble.
According to sources of Bangladesh Road Transports Authorities (BRTA), around 7,000 buses and minibuses ply on 161 routes in the city every day, while around 3,077 human haulers on different routes.
Those transports are forced to pay tolls at different points on their ways, while its share goes to the pockets of several syndicate members including police and local administration.
Toll collectors take position at different spots and collect tolls from transport workers in the name of associations or welfare funds, even in the name of police. The technique of collecting toll from human haulers is somewhat different. Tk 450 to Tk 1,000 is paid for each laguna as toll according to location.
Tolls are collected in several phases, monitored by bit supervisors. Thus, over Tk 15 crore is realized as tolls from transports in the city every month, while several pro-government organizations of owners and workers, local political leaders, police and terrorists get share of the toll money.
Some bus drivers and workers said, extortion starts before departure of bus from the terminal. In first stage, Tk 500 is paid as "terminal fee", while Tk 100 is paid for city corporation's lease holder fee and Tk 100 for serial. Then, other amounts are paid on different points on the way. A bus pays at least Tk 1,000 as toll at different points on its way. Nowadays, the proportion of toll has increased for Eid.
Abur Rahim, a bus driver said, "I pay toll at six points including Baridhara (Notun Bazar), Khilkhet, Airport, Azampur, Abdullahpur and Gazipur on the Gulistan-Gazipur route. Toll collectors realize Tk 50 to Tk 200 at each point.
Same scenario was found on Motijheel-Mirpur route. Around 1,000 buses of different transport companies including Shikor Paribahan, Somoy Niyontron Paribahan and Dishari Paribahan ply on the route every day. Each bus is forced to pay on average Tk 1,000 as toll at different points in the name of terminal fees, serial fees, lineman fees etc.
Some bus drivers and workers said, several workers' organizations of the ruling party realize tolls to manage authorities concerned as many transports ply on different routes without route permits and fitness. Sometimes, traffic police realize toll from them.
Dr SM Saleh Uddin, Adviser of the DNCC Traffic Congestion Mitigation project said, "Anarchy creates in public transports under the patronization of the government. A section of transport owners and workers have been controlling the transport sector, which has increased people's sufferings. The government should be sincere to mitigate the crisis."
Transport specialist Kazi Md Saifun Newaz said, "Only government can stop toll collection in public transports. In this context, the government needs good willing."Md Mahfuz, a traffic sergeant told The Asian Age that, action should be taken, if someone realizes toll from buses in the name of traffic police.