In Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram, the dominance of CNGs and battery-powered auto-rickshaws on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway is increasing day by day. Due to the reckless movement of these illegal vehicles, accidents are occurring regularly. Because of lax law enforcement and the system of monthly extortion, banned vehicles are operating freely on the highway.
Although the High Court’s ban on the movement of three-wheeled vehicles on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway remains in force, it is not being implemented. On this busiest highway, CNGs and battery-powered auto-rickshaws roam around daily, taking serious risks. As a result, heavy vehicles are getting involved in accidents.
In the past few months alone, more than half a hundred accidents involving goods-carrying trucks and lorries have reportedly occurred. While investigating these issues, shocking information has emerged showing that these vehicles are freely operating on the highway in exchange for monthly payments.
CNG auto-rickshaw drivers and owners allege that to operate each vehicle, they must collude with the highway police and pay a “serial registration fee” of two thousand taka per vehicle and a monthly extortion fee of five hundred taka. If the specified amount is not paid, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers face harassment through false cases and various complications.
In a call recording obtained by the reporter, it can be heard that Md. Faruk Hossain, using the alias Sohag, a former police member of Jorarganj Highway Police Station, is bargaining with a victim over managing the “line” in exchange for money.
Md. Faruk Hossain is currently serving as a constable at the APBN Training Center in Khagrachhari district. From there, he has been controlling this extortion business for a long time using the alias Sohag. A local CNG driver is working as his associate on behalf of this police member. Local victims claim that transactions are also conducted via bKash using the number, with the person introducing himself as Sohag.
Regarding this matter, the accused Md. Faruk Hossain said, “If someone takes money using my name, what can I do? I do not live in that area now—perhaps you do not know that.”
OC of Jorarganj Highway Police Station, Mohammad Zakaria, said, “I am new to this police station. If anyone is involved in extortion using the name of the highway police, legal action will be taken against them.”
