Allegation of Artificial Gridlock at Paturia, Daulatdia

Truck drivers forced to bribe for tickets at ferry terminals

7 July 2009, 17:00 PM

Zahangir Alam Biswas, Manikganj

Truck drivers, tired of waiting in 'artificial gridlock' for over a day, demonstrate at Paturia ferry terminal on Saturday, Bottom, and a BIWTC official allows a truck to break the serial allegedly in exchange for bribe.Photo: STAR

A section of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officials, traffic policemen and middlemen are forcing truck drivers to give bribe to get their way to the ferry terminal as 'artificial' traffic jam is created at Paturia and Daulatdia. Government rate of ferry ticket per truck is Tk 960 but it is often sold for Tk 1500-3000 in the black market, said a number of truck drivers. Those who decline to give the extra money have to stay at the terminal for unusually long time, they said. BIWTC office sources said around 1200 trucks cross Paturia-Daulatdia ferry a day. As around 7 lakh taka is taken a day from the truck drivers to let them have access to the terminal through breaking the serial, the 'extorted' amount stands at around Tk 25 crore a year, sources said. Three BIWTC officials with the help of a good number of employees at Paturia and Daulatdia ferry terminals allegedly lead the 'bribery business' by creating artificial traffic jam on both sides of the river, truck drivers alleged. Around 100 brokers are engaged in ticket selling for extra money allegedly with the connivance of a few traffic policemen, they said. As this correspondent 'visited Paturia terminal several times this week, dozens of truck drivers told him the tale of bribery. “I came from Dhaka for Kushtia with a truck loaded with soyabean oil. After staying at Paturia ferry terminal for 24 hours, I have got ticket for Tk 1600 against the government rate of Tk 960,” said truck driver Rokon of Kushtia. “After staying for hours at Paturia terminal, I bought the ferry ticket for Tk 1500 from brokers, as the legal ticket sellers declined to give it at the government fixed rate,” said truck driver Abdur Rashid of Jhenidah. Truck driver Babul of Jessore said tickets often sell in the black market when the staff at ticket counters say tickets are not unavailable. Many other truck drivers made similar allegations. The truck drivers recently staged demonstration in front of the BIWTC office at Paturia terminal protesting ill practices by a section of BIWTC officials, traffic policemen and brokers. Asked about the irregularities, BIWTC Manager Bidyut Kumer Saha, ticket counter official Shafiqul Islam and Paturia outpost in-charge Sub Inspector Razzak denied the allegations. BIWTA terminal assistant Tara Mia said, “We only maintain serials. We do not know anything about the alleged irregularities by BIWTC officials.”