17 'brokers' held in Khulna

Detectives of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) in separate drives yesterday arrested 17 "brokers" for deceiving service seekers at a hospital and BRTA office in the city.

Tipped-off, a team of KMP conducted a drive at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Naser Specialized Hospital around noon and detained 10 brokers, said Sheikh Moniruzzaman Mithu, additional deputy commissioner of KMP.

They used to misguide people saying that there is no expert doctor at the hospital and the treatment is expensive. The brokers then took service seekers to private clinics and diagnostic centres, he added.

Last month, detectives detained six persons from the hospital and four others from Khulna General Hospital on similar allegations.

Meanwhile, another Khulna Metropolitan Police team detained seven brokers at Khulna BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority) office in the afternoon for working as “middlemen” and taking money from service seekers.

Earlier on February 19, law enforcers detained nine brokers from the same office premises.

“Legal actions will be taken against the brokers,” said the KMP additional deputy commissioner.