Transport sector held hostage by unscrupulous influential racket

Transport sector is connected with living of 16 crore people. The aim of transport business is to get profit by providing service. But an unscrupulous racket has made this most important sector of economy as their own property.

Transport sector seems to be held hostage by some dishonest influential persons. Labeling the identity of workers, they are gaining crores of taka in their pocket. Political leaders from both ruling party and opposition are associated with these syndicates.

Though the minor activities of extortion are not noticed but in the macro financial perspective the scenario is easily understandable. According to the BRTA information, the number of registered vehicles is more than 32 lakhs. Of this the number of bus-truck, pick up-covered van, tempo-autorickshaw is 6 lakh 92 thousand 565. If taka 20 is taken as extortion from each of the vehicle in a day than the total sum stands at nearly one and half crore taka which turns more than 41 crore taka at the month end.

Let’s look at the calculation. Registered vehicles number 6 lakh 92 thousand 565. At the rate of 20 taka extortion daily the total stands at 1 crore 38 lakh 51 thousand 300 taka. At the yearend it stands at 415 crore 53 lakh 9 thousand taka. This is only the estimation. The real scenario is more terrible.

Why this huge amount of money is being collected and where are those going? There is no information in this connection. General workers say a syndicate is taking away the money using their names.

Osman Ali, General Secretary of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Shramik Federation. Though he identified himself as a worker but he is owner of several buses. He also has businesses of motor and battery, a filling station at Tongi, two houses at Gazipur and expensive flat at Gulshan.

Central leaders of Sarak Paribahan Shramik League said, he has made the transport sector hostage. Now he is owner of thousands crore taka.

Rtv team tried their best to communicate with him over mobile phone but failed. Even the attempt foiled after going his Shramik Federation Office.

Not Osman Ali, a vested quarter in the name of ‘worker’ has grabbed the entire transport sector. Also, terminal occupying occurrence is happening under patronization of this syndicate.

This type of situation is not new. Government changes but their position does not change. For this reason, the owners and workers are being held hostage for decades.

AH