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Extortion stopped at Char Fasson fishing ghats 

Published : Sunday, 22 September, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 191
Our Correspondent
CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, Sept 21:  Almost entire scenario of fishing ghats in Char Fasson Upazila of the district has changed soon after the fall of government, with stoppage to extortion at roads and fishing ghats.

In fact, extortions or illegal toll collections on different places at roads and fishing stations in the upazila caused big disarray to the fishing families including fishers, wholesalers, warehouses and even retailers during the Awami League-led regime. It was told by fishing ghat sources.         

Day-earning people including auto-rickshaw, Borak, motor cycle and Tomtom drivers also expressed their relief of getting rid of paying tolls at different points of roads.

Previously victims of organised extortions said, after the exit of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, the extortionists of AL went hide-in.

Now transport owners do not give tolls on roads, they added.

A number of vehicle owners of truck and other transports at Char Fasson Bazar including Jamal, Monir and Alauddin said, "We drive small vehicles; so our earnings are poor; it would be difficult for us to purchase food for our families after giving extortion; once failed to give extortion because of no-earning, keys would be snatched away; we experienced that after giving forced extortion, we went back home empty handed; and children suffered food."

It was restricted to take tolls from highways except bridges; but it was not followed; AL leaders and activists did not heed that law at all. 

Both AL and BNP supporting warehouse owners of Samrajghat and others said, in the last 15 years and a half, few AL businessmen conducted fishing ghat-based businesses by applying  influence; then BNP supporting businessmen were inactive; after August 5, BNP supporting businessmen have started businesses in peaceful environment.

While talking with this correspondent of The Daily Observer, some fisher traders said, though some AL supporting businessmen fled away, most AL businessmen and BNP ones are now doing businesses in peaceful manner without any extortion pressure.

Samrajghat Businessman and former chairman of Charmadraj Union Fakhor Uddin Shahin Maltia said, fishermen could not give fishes to warehouses of BNP supporting businessmen because of AL supporting traders; so, they would remain almost inactive for whole year.

Now both AL and BNP supporting businessmen are running their businesses together, he added.

BNP supporting businessman Alauddin Mia said, "Those who had committed misdeeds they fled: we remaining ones are doing businesses at the ghat; nobody is halting us."

BNP supporting businessman Shahabuddin Chowdhury said, "We will not do like them who made damages to the country and now absconding; we will do businesses together."

"Some leaders and activists of the union came to stop shops of few AL supporting businessmen. But we didn't allow to do it," he added.

He further said, except the business shop of Lokman, killer of Chhatra Dal leader Razzak, all shops are running at this ghat.
Lokan is in jail for extortion case, he said.

There is no extortionist at the ghat. 

During the AL regime of over 15 years, Juba League Organizing Secretary Monirul Hossain Faruq controlled all boats from Charkachchapia of Char Fasson to Kukri Mukri and Tarua. At present, this is controlled by Juba Dal Organizing Secretary Hannan Bepari.

Besides, as leasee Swechchasebok League President Engineer Abdul Hannan would take  toll from Betua fishing ghat. In the name of toll collection, he would take two/three times of higher tolls on plea of passenger tickets and goods handlings. 

By using the political power, he continued that work by making general passengers hostage, he added. He is now absconding after fall of the government.

AL leader Sirajul took lease of two ghats including Char Fasson new Sluice Ghat to Janata Nazar Monpura and from Janata Bazar to Ayshabag of Aslampur Union at Char Fasson.

The fare stands at Tk 40.40 per kilometre (km) as per the government fixed Tk 2:30 per km. But Tk 120 is realised as fare.

Along with this, one passenger has to purchase ticket at Tk 10 at the ghat. But two launches are operated with unfit engines in ferrying passengers.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Char Fasson Police Station Md Shakhawat Hossain said, relief has returned in all places after the government fall.

"Yet some isolated incidents occurred. But no grabbing incident was complained to us. We heard previous leasees fled away from ghats. The ghats are now running freely," the OC added.



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