Rampant extortion in name of document checking

Frequent interventions by police on vehicular movement, in the name of checking documents, are allegedly aimed at extortion in most cases. The photo was taken on Pabna-Rajshahi highway a couple of days ago. PHOTO: STAR

Transport workers in the district have alleged random extortion and harassment by the highway police in name of checking documents.
Police often stop trucks, microbuses, motorbikes and pickups in Dashuria, Muladuli and Lalon Shah Bridge areas of Pabna-Kushtia and Pabna-Rajshahi highways and Mohendrapur, Kashinathpur and Bera areas of Dhaka-Pabna highway in the district for checking license and other documents of the vehicles, said relevant sources.
"Rampant extortion by the highway police, especially from the truck drivers, has become a usual affair. On several occasions we demanded that the administration takes steps to stop harassment on the highway but to no effect,” said Shahidul Islam, president of truck drivers union in Pabna.
“Even when all the necessary documents are okay, they (highway police) try to find a fault. They force the drivers to give money or file cases,” said Bhulu, a car driver.
However, the passenger buses are generally exempted from such harassment by highway police, sources said.
Contacted, Pabna Superintendent of Police Md Miraz Uddin Ahmed said, “Highway police check necessary documents of the vehicles on the road. If there is any fault they file cases on the spot. But there is no official complaint of bribery against the highway police.”