Rickshaw-pullers besiege Sreepur municipal office to end 'extortion'

Rickshaw-pullers besieged the office of Sreepur municipality in Gazipur for four hours yesterday demanding that the "extortion" beyond agreement by the lease holders over parking the vehicles be stooped.

Meanwhile, some rickshaw passengers sought setting up of rickshaw fare.

The incidents led to a severe traffic jam in the area, said witnesses. The rickshaw-pullers also brought out a procession.

They said there were eight to ten spots in the municipality. When they crossed any of the spots, the lease holders realised Tk 10 from them, they said, adding that the realisation of money was only for parking.

Due to such extortion, they had to increase fare, which sometimes triggered altercations with the passengers, said the rickshaw-pullers.

Zamil Ahmed, assistant director of Local Government in Gazipur, said the municipality authorities officially could impose such tax but realising the money for crossing the spots was beyond the lease agreement.

The municipality Mayor Anisur Rahman said following the allegation of the rickshaw pullers, he asked all the lease holders not to do so further.