5 brokers punished for extorting license seekers

A mobile court sentenced five people to four months' imprisonment and fined them Tk 5,000 each on charge of harassing license seekers at the office of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in the district town.

The convicts -- Md Abul Hossain, 29, Samir Hossain, 25, Ratan Hossain, 26, Md Shariful Islam, 23, Md Sweet, 26, and Md Jony, 28 -- hailing from different villages of the district were engaged as brokers in the BRTA office, sources said.

"The accused brokers in the BRTA office harassed the license seekers coming from different areas of the district and forced them to give money for completing the process to get driving licenses and vehicle licenses," said Md Mominul Karim, assistant superintendent of police.

"Following allegations from the license seekers, the mobile court raided the office today [Wednesday] morning and the five people were arrested on charge of fraudulent practices. The drive will continue to free the office from brokers," he said.

As the mobile court headed by executive magistrates Pinki Shah and Ismail Hossain found the arrestees guilty, according to the witnesses and evidence, they awarded them the punishment.