Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan has brought allegations of extortion against highway police officials.
"If the money is not paid, the transport drivers have to face cases," he said while speaking at a meeting of the National Road Advisory Council at the communications ministry yesterday.
The minister demanded taking necessary steps to stop police extortion on roads and highways especially ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
He echoed the concerns of representatives of transport owners and workers who were present at the meeting.
Enayetullah, secretary general of Transport Owners Association, alleged that transport drivers have to pay Tk 300 to Tk 400 extortion at each designated point across the country.
Demanding an end to such unbridled extortion by police, he suggested removal of hat-bazars (markets) from both sides of the highway to reduce the traffic jam.
The meeting chaired by Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain asked the district administration to take steps to remove traffic jams in front of shopping centres and from highways during the Ramadan.
The meeting asked the authorities concerned to make sure that drivers of private cars, jeeps and microbuses fasten their seat belts, and do not use cell phones while driving.
The communications minister asked the law enforcers to take legal action against motorcyclists who do not wear helmets while driving.
The meeting also asked the authorities concerned to take legal action against the violators of traffic rules.
Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on communications ministry Mujibur Rahman, divisional commissioners, metropolitan police commissioners and representatives of transport owners association and Road Transport Workers Federation, among others, attended the meeting.
Source : The Daily Star
