Truckers forced to pay illegal toll at land port
A section of influential business leaders, politicians and workers' leaders are illegally collecting toll from goods-laden trucks coming from India and Nepal at Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh.
In the name of a development fund of the Panchagarh Exporter-Importer Association, the group has been realising 100 Indian rupees as toll from each goods-laden truck coming from the two neighbouring countries, since the inauguration of the immigration service at the port in February this year.
The association had stopped collecting the toll on September 1 because of an internal feud.
But a day later, a section of people resumed toll collection in the name of poverty reduction in the union council and port labourers' welfare.
During a recent visit to the port, it was found that some labour leaders were collecting toll from goods-laden trucks.
Several Indian truck drivers alleged that they have to pay the money for each trip to Bangladesh, as truck drivers are not given unloading serial numbers if they refuse to give the money.
Babul Hossain, secretary of Banglabandha Union Parishad, said over 200 goods-laden trucks come to the port from India and Nepal each working day.
He said the exporters and importers association and Banglabandha Union Parishad take a portion of the amount, after giving 10 percent to the Coolie Workers Union.
Mehedi Hasan Khan Babla, president of the association, said the toll is collected for the development of the business community.
The association has collected Tk 10 lakh since February. Of the amount, Tk 6 lakh was spent on different welfare activities and iftar programmes. The rest Tk 4 lakh remains deposited with the association, he added.
However, Mojaffar Hossain, treasurer of the association, said he does not maintain any account on the collection of toll.
“I have been protesting toll collection from goods-laden trucks from the very beginning.”
Rajab Ali, assistant general manger of the port, said he was threatened when he asked the toll collectors not to charge the trucks.
Kudrat-e-Khuda, chairman of Banglabandha Union Parishad, said he knows nothing about the people who are collecting the toll.
To offset the additional cost, Indian businessmen have increased the price of their goods, particularly that of stone, which is affecting the importers. Businesspeople said the Banglabandha-Phulbari land port has more potential than Benapole-Petrapole, as it is close to Siliguri, the gateway to northeast India, Nepal and Bhutan.
From Banglabandha, West Bengal's major commercial city Siliguri is just eight kilometres away, Nepal's Kakorvita about 58 km, the border of Bhutan about 130 km, and Nathula of China 200 km.
If illegal charges are levied on trucks, importers and exporters using the port would feel discouraged, they added.
Tofijul Islam, vice-president of the association, said businessmen are against collecting toll from the trucks.
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