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বাংলা E-Paper 📍 Dhaka 📅 Friday | 11 September 2026, 27 Bhadro 1433 PID registration number 06

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Bus drivers face alleged extortion in Faridpur

Published : Friday, 11 September, 2026 at 2:24 PM

Observer online report

Transport workers in Faridpur have alleged that Tk 60 is being collected from each long-distance passenger bus in the name of workers’ welfare, with those refusing to pay facing harassment and abuse.

The collections are allegedly being made by invoking the name of the Faridpur BRTA assistant director. However, the official has denied authorising the collections, while the district administration has said there is no scope for such activities on the roads.

The allegations surfaced on Thursday when workers were seen collecting money from transport drivers at the Faridpur-Rajbari road junction.

According to the allegations, Tk 30 is being collected for each of two workers’ organisations, amounting to Tk 60 per bus. Workers allegedly stand at two separate points near the junction, waving red flags to stop buses and issuing receipts after collecting the money.

Transport workers said those refusing to pay were subjected to various forms of harassment. The collectors, however, claimed they were acting on instructions from the leaders of the Faridpur Motor Workers’ Union-1055 and the Faridpur Road Transport Workers’ Union.

Yasin Molla, president of the Faridpur Motor Workers’ Union-1055, said the collections were being made with permission from a BRTA official and that the money would be spent for workers’ welfare.

The sudden collections have sparked discontent among transport workers, with some describing the practice as open extortion and threatening to resist it.

BRTA Faridpur Assistant Director Palash Khisa denied authorising the collections.

“There is no question of giving permission to collect money on the roads. If anyone has invoked my name, that is their personal matter,” he said.

Faridpur District Bus Owners’ Association administrator and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Sohrab Hossain said the district administration had issued no such directive.

“There is no scope for collecting money on the roads. We have instructed them to stop it immediately after learning about the matter. The reason behind the collections will be investigated,” he said.

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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