While responding to a question of reporters in a press briefing after visiting Karwan Bazar kitchen market Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday ptices of food grain, vegetables and essential commodities witness potential rise due to extortion during their transportation into the capital, as the cases of extortion are on the rise in the city and elsewhere, the situation demands an integrated strategy to be undertaken by the government against such crimes. Highway extortion is not a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. Extortion in the transportation of goods has become exorbitant in the last few years. Moreover, there has even been talk about legalising extortion in the transport sector in a bid to control how much each transport may pay nationwide. But the issue comes into attention only in Ramadan or when the price of daily commodities fluctuates at rapid pace.
It needs no emphasizing that without proper steps from the government this trend of highway extortion will continue without any hindrance. At the end of the day, it is the general public who have to bear the costs of these “extra” fees that are levied on transports.
Relevant authorities must order competent and
credible inquiry of the extortion cases and have
the responsible individuals prosecuted and
punished to set examples
Considering the situation, the government needs to streamline the policy in no time. Authorities concerned must realise that any further delay in this regard may lead to a chaotic situation. Relevant authorities must order competent and credible inquiry of the extortion cases and have the responsible individuals prosecuted and punished to set examples.
We see the prices of goods fall in Ramadan in all Muslim counties in the world. But, the opposite development takes place in our country. We hope it would be possible to stop extortion in transportation of goods to stabilise the market price during Ramadan with the help of businessmen, law enforcement agencies and other government departments concerned.
