Shopkeepers still paying toll
Kausar Islam Ayon
Although the business leaders in New Market area said they have resolved the crisis over rampant extortion in the area through negotiation with the student leaders of Dhaka College, the shopkeepers said they are still not free from extortion."They come and ask for a shirt or T-shirt. If we do not give it for free, they pay Tk 20 to 50 which is almost half of the actual price," said Md Arman, a shopkeeper in this area. The conflict over extortion between the students and businessmen surfaced earlier this month when the shopkeepers protested against the extortion on the sreets. A group of leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of the ruling BNP, of Dhaka College allegedly went to collect toll from Chandrima Super Market, a market adjacent to Dhaka College. When the traders protested, the students got engaged in a scuffle with them. Later, the businessmen of all the markets nearby including New Market, Gausia, Chadni Chawk, Chandrima brought out a procession. They also kept their shutters down for a day as tension ran high in the area. When asked, the JCD leaders said it was an isolated incident and JCD is not responsible for it. "All of them [extortionists] were not our activists. After the incident, we warned all the activists that they will face expulsion if such things happen again," said Anisur Rahman Sujon, general secretary, JCD Dhaka College unit. The business leaders said they have reached an agreement with the Dhaka College students to do business in the area peacefully. "The problem is almost over after the principal of the college, OC of local police station and the student leaders intervened in the matter," said Nurul Karim Jinnah, president of Chandrima Super Market Shop Owners' Association. But other businessmen said this is nothing but eyewash. The negotiation took place under pressure from influential leaders of the ruling party, they said. "It is true that we are not paying toll for the last few weeks. But this is not a permanent solution. From our previous experiences, we know they will come back soon to collect toll again," said Nuru, a businessmen of Chandrima Super Market. "We are helpless as the police have remained inactive over the years on this issue." The shopkeepers however said they will resist the extortion in future at any cost. The hawkers who their run business on the footpaths adjacent to Dhaka College also allege that they have to pay toll regularly to some extortionists. "Linemen Bachhu and Kabir collect toll from us every day. The amount of toll varies from Tk 30 to 40 per day for each shop," said one of the hawkers.
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