'Managing committee at every ferry ghat to stop extortion from May'

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday said his ministry will form 'managing committee' at every ferry ghat to stop extortion and maintain discipline there from May onwards.
However, the minister earlier proposed for legalisation of extortion at transport sector.
“A managing committee will be formed at every ferry ghat to stop extortion and remove irregularities there. The committee will supervise all the activities at ferry ghat,” he said.
A central monitoring cell will also be set up to watch the activities of these managing committees, he added.
Shajahan was talking to reporters after a meeting with transport operators, workers' union leaders and government officials at his ministry.
Earlier on February 12, the minister demanded before a parliamentary sub-committee that extortion be made legal to stop rampant corruption in the transport sector.
A representative each from local parliament member, deputy commissioner, superintendent of police, transport owners, transport workers, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation will be included in each managing committee.
The representative of deputy commissioner will coordinate the committee, which is supposed to start working from May 1, the minister said, adding, “The committees will also place recommendations whether a taskforce should be formed to end extortion and irregularities.”
“We have also directed the police to take stern action against those responsible for running extortion businesses,” he said.
Earlier, Shajahan, who also heads the Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, formed a 10-member convening committee at Daulatdia ferry ghat to check illegal toll collection, extortion and maintain serials of the waiting vehicles.
On April 5 this year, a section of bus owners threatened to suspend bus services to 22 southern districts for indefinite period protesting extortion at Daulatdia-Paturia ferry ghat.
Briefing reporters yesterday, the minister admitted that rampant extortion is going on at Paturia-Daulatdia and Mawa-Kawrakandi ferry ghats.
CCTV cameras will be installed and computerised ticketing system will be introduced at the ferry ghats to curb corruption, he said, adding “Wreckers will remain stand by at the ferry ghats to remove any stationary vehicle.”
The minister said he will request the communications minister to widen roads near ferry ghats to reduce traffic jam.
He also denied the allegation that a section of transport workers is involved in extortion at ferry ghats, and claimed that a section of local people is involved in such extortion ring.
State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku, deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of different districts, representatives from transport owners and workers associations, among others, attended yesterday's meeting.