Extortion in disguise
The extortion is going on in the capital in the name of Eid tips. Local hoodlums are allegedly extorting money from hawkers and vendors who set up shops on the footpaths.
Many hawkers in the city's Karwan Bazar, Farmgate and Motijheel areas said they have been forced to pay the extortion money to the "linemen" appointed by local criminals and police.
Extortion by linemen is an old practice and it is quite impossible to run a business on the footpaths without paying them the money, alleged the hawkers.
During a visit to Farmgate area on Wednesday, several hawkers told these correspondents that they had been running the shops since 2007 and paying “money” to the linemen.
“I give Tk 400 to these linemen every day during this Eid season,” said a clothes vendor in the area.
The linemen have increased the amount targeting the Eid, said the hawkers, adding, they risk being evicted from the streets if they deny paying the additional amount.
Arif Chowdhury, president of National Hawker's Federation, said, “The amount has been doubled ahead of Eid. Anyone usually pays Tk 200 per day, now has to pay Tk 400.”
“It also varies what products you are selling. If it is an Eid product, the amount would be higher,” he added.
On the other hand, some street vendors said they run the shops only for Eid as the linemen let them do business for one month in exchange for money.
Apart from the linemen, local criminals also keep on extorting businessmen in the name of Eid tips.
On early June 13, extortionists stormed into the residence of a restaurant owner in the city's Mohakhali Dakkhinpara area.
Azad, brother of the victim -- owner of Niribili Hotel in the area, said a group of miscreants had entered their house at 5:00am and opened fire on his brother as the latter refused to pay toll.
Meanwhile, as the Eid is drawing near, hijras (transgender people) are also on the prowl extorting money from people and traders as Eid tips.
Several traders at the capital's Karwan Bazar alleged that the hijras appear in group and force them for money.
The practice has been rampant on the occasion of Eid, they said, adding, if they refuse to pay money, hijras create nuisance in front of the shops.
On June 15, Ratna Hijra in Mirpur's East Shewrapara bit a house owner as the latter refused to give her money as Eid tips. Contacted, a police official of Dhanmondi Police Station seeking anonymity said, "We cannot take any action against them (hijras) for forcibly taking money from people and traders. If we take action, they create nuisance in front of police stations.”
He, however, said they take action if there is any specific allegation against them.
Moreover, centring the Eid, muggers are also desperate for money.
On early Thursday, miscreants riding a microbus waylaid a poultry trader near Matsya Bhaban and snatched his money. As the trader tried to stop the vehicle from fleeing, the microbus ran him over.
On Wednesday, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman Talukdar of Savar Highway Circle was found dead near Birualia Bridge in Mirpur Beribadh area. Police suspect he might have been killed by muggers.
On June 1, a freedom fighter and managing director of a security company, was stopped by muggers in the early morning in Dholpur area of Jatrabari while he was on a rickshaw. He was stabbed dead by the muggers as he tried to run away after the criminals tried to snatch his briefcase. Later, police arrested five muggers in this connection.
In the capital, some hundred members of sedating gangs, fake detectives, robbers and muggers were reportedly arrested by police and Rab during this Ramadan.
Asked about the overall scenario, Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said if they get any specific allegations, they would take actions against the culprits.
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