Photo: Messenger
A damning research work has revealed that private buses and minibuses in the country pay a hefty sum of Taka 1,059 crores (10.59 billion) annually to extortionists.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the Bangladeshi branch of the Berlin-based Transparency International, came up with the revealing information on Tuesday, when the civil society organisation dedicated to fighting against corruption published a research report titled ‘Integrity in the business of private bus transportation’ at the TIB office in the capital’s Dhanmondi.
Not to anybody’s surprise, the money raised from extortion is shared with party-affiliated individuals or groups, traffic and highway police, officers and employees of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), association of owners and labourers and representatives of the municipality or City Corporation.
Extortion is an open secret in Bangladesh, but the extortionists enjoy impunity here due to political connection with nexus with law enforcement agencies.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said at the press conference, “This estimation of the extortion money is a conservative figure. The extortion is many times higher in reality. The cuts of this extortion go to different quarters. Since the sector is under politicians’ control, the extortion money is also controlled by them.”
The TIB supremo has also viewed that this sector is plagued with corruption, and the sector remains a hostage especially because of the political clout.
As a result, the passengers are not receiving the expected service either, he added.
The research showed that politicians are involved in the management of about 92 per cent of the country’s largest bus companies. And 80 per cent of them are affiliated with the ruling party.
The study also revealed that 60.5 per cent of the passengers have complained about the collection of extra fare.
An estimated 3,500 intercity passenger buses ply daily in the capital Dhaka, a drop from the previous count of over 5,000 buses in recent years.
Alongside these buses, approximately 2,000 other passenger services operate.
The BRTA sources reveal the registration of 10,134 passenger buses between 2010 and 2023. However, the number of buses plying on the capital roads remains low as transport business stakeholders express discontent – thereby citing widespread extortion.
Transport owners, burdened by rising fuel prices and extortion demands, lose interest in modernizing their fleets. Passengers are left to contend with a dwindling number of ageing, often unserviceable buses.
In another study, every day, an estimated Taka 50 lakh is siphoned off from buses and human hauliers through a complex web of extortion syndicates.
Public transport owners on an average pay between Taka 1,000 to Taka 1,200 per vehicle at various spots each day, while human hauliers endure a daily fee of Taka 800.
Extortion hotspots are in Sadarghat, Fulbaria, Gulistan, Mayor Hanif Flyover, Paltan, Jatrabari, Syedabad Bus Stand, Mohakhali Bus Terminal, and Gabtali, which are controlled by various pro-ruling party committees and unions.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson Farooq Hossain said when the transport owners complain against extortionists on the road under different names, the police do not hesitate to take action against the extortionists.
Messenger/Disha
