Leaders and members of Daudkandi and Gazaria Upazila Volgate Owners Association stage a protest rally near Gumti Bridge on Sunday demanding to stop riverway extortion. -AA
Leaders and members of Daudkandi and Gazaria Upazila Volgate Owners Association staged a protest rally and a sit-in program near Gomti Bridge at 1pm on Sunday (June 20) demanding to stop riverway extortion from the sand-laden volgate on the Gumti River.
The extortionists used to collect Tk 300 to 500 each from the sand-laden volgate on the Gumti River in the upazila has now become an open secret topic. A fierce empire of extortionists has sprung up in an area of about 10 km from Gumti River. The violence of the extortionists is going on by evading the strict surveillance of the law enforcement agencies. Earlier, Cumilla District Detective Branch and Daudkandi Model Police have conducted many drives and arrested many extortionists and sent them to jail. There are reportedly allegations that if extortionist is paid less or not paid, the ship's staff have to face extreme torture.
However, Daudkandi Upazila Parishad Chairman Major Mohammad Ali (Retd.) expressed solidarity with the demonstration.
The upazila chairman assured to stay by the side of the leaders of the Ship Owners Association in the case of preventing extortion on the riverway. "The rally of the Ship Owners Association demanded to stop extortion on the riverway. I am proposing a naval police patrol in the Gumti River and urging the government to take actions in this regard," he said.
Gesu Uddin Gesu Mia, a ship worker, said, "When we reached Ziarkandi and Charpara areas of Gauripur with a sand-laden volgate, the terrorists forced us to pay Tk 200 to 500. When someone refuses to pay the demanded money, they used to beat him and take everything away." Mehedi Hasan Tipu, President of Daudkandi Volgate Owners Association, said, "We operate 40/50 sand-laden ships on this route every day. Extortionists demand money from ships every day. I urged the law enforcement agencies to bring these extortionists under the law and ensure exemplary punishment."
Daudkandi Volgate Owners Association General Secretary Shahadat Hossain, Vice Presidents Nazmul Sarkar and Kabir Khandaker, Executive Members Monir Hossain and Helal Uddin, Gazaria Volgate Owners Association President Mahbub Hossain Molla, Vice President Md Delwar and General Secretary Abdul Malek Munshi, among others, were present on the occasion.
--- Liton Sarkar Badol in Daudkandi
Latest News