Owners for action by Pabna admin

A section of transport owners under the banner of 'Pabna Motor Malik Group' are engaged in alleged extortion from the vehicles moving in the district, much to the grievance among the general transport owners.

“Due to disputes among transport owners, the committee of Pabna Motor Malik Group was dissolved and the district administration took the charge of the association, appointing the additional deputy commissioner (General) as administrator in mid-2012,” MA Kafi Sarkar, owner of Sarkar Travels, told a press conference at Pabna Press Club yesterday.

"At least Tk 24 lakh is collected from around 350 vehicles at different points in the district every month as a group of transport owners led by Rion Hossain, owner of Pabna Express, realise illegal toll in the name of the transport owners association.

"They earned Tk 8 to 10 crore during the last three and a half years but there is no trace of the huge amount," he claimed.

The toll collection is rampant in 15 to 20 points including Pabna bus terminal, Dashuria, Muladuli, Pakshey, and Bera, said transport owner Md Mosharaf Hossain alias Khokon.

Pabna Deputy Commissioner Rekha Rani Balo said, "Nobody was appointed to collect toll from the district administration. If anyone collects toll in the name of the district administration or the so-called association, we will take action."