During the tenure of the Awami League-led government, road extortion operated as a politically sanctioned practice, with money being collected across the country through both named and unnamed receipts.
The worst affected were inter-departmental roads and highways, where additional extortion fees were imposed on the transportation of goods, leading to increased product prices that often exceeded consumers' purchasing power.
However, with the recent ousting of the Awami League government, the scenario on the roads has notably changed. Extortion has vanished, and the price of fuel for transportation has decreased.
But has the common consumer reaped the benefits? Have the prices of essential commodities fallen?
To answer these pressing questions, this reporter visited the markets and spoke with relevant stakeholders.
The findings reveal that the situation in the essential goods market remains unchanged.
Despite lower transportation costs, the prices of everyday essentials have not decreased, leaving the general populace with no respite.
During a visit to Karwan Bazar on Sunday (15 September) night, between 10:30pm and 12:30am, amid heavy rain, this reporter observed vegetable unloading from trucks.
As the night progressed, the market became busier, with more trucks and pickup vans arriving from various regions, and the process of unloading goods intensified.
Conversations with truck drivers and labourers transporting goods painted a clear picture: Extortion is no longer a practice on the roads.
Selim, a truck driver who had arrived from Chapainawabganj, confirmed that no extortion is currently taking place on the roads.
"In the past, we had to pay extortion fees everywhere. If they stopped your vehicle, you had to pay anywhere between Tk200-500," he said.
"If you refused to pay, they would break the vehicle’s glass, which costs Tk7,000. No one wants to pay Tk7,000 for just Tk200-300 taka."
Selim also mentioned that upon reaching Karwan Bazar, drivers previously had to pay an additional Tk300 in extortion, in the name of the City Corporation. Police were also part of the extortion racket, but that, too, has stopped.
He estimated that on each trip from Chapainawabganj to Dhaka, he used to spend Tk800-1,000 taka on extortion payments.
His account was corroborated by Bilal Hossain, a driver from Munshiganj’s Gazaria area, who echoed that no extortion fees are currently being demanded.
However, Bilal raised concerns about the inefficiency at toll plazas, where work progresses slowly, causing traffic congestion and increasing travel time. He explained that crossing two toll plazas alone now takes over two hours.
Selim also highlighted a rising menace—street children or opportunistic thieves who jump onto trucks and steal goods, cutting through the covering tarpaulin or mesh. He lamented that the absence of strong police patrols on the roads has allowed these activities to flourish.
Bilal further explained that in the past, he would be forced to pay Tk300 as soon as his truck entered Karwan Bazar in the name of the City Corporation, in addition to extortion at four different points along the road, each demanding Tk30.
Police stations used to charge Tk150, adding up to a significant amount.
He mentioned, "It seemed like there was no end to the extortion—there were demands from every political faction and group."
Similar experiences were shared by truck drivers from different regions.
Saheb Ali, who had arrived from Satkhira with a truckload of green chillies, confirmed that no extortion is occurring now.
He used to pay extortion at numerous points on the route from Satkhira to Dhaka, including Khulna, Jashore, and Faridpur. Now, he reports no issues on the road, not even demands from the police.
Ramzan Ali, another truck driver who had arrived from Jashore, stated, "We used to go mad paying extortion fees on the road. Now, there is no such hassle."
Despite the elimination of road extortion and a slight reduction in fuel prices, these changes have not translated into lower transportation costs.
Bilal mentioned that the fare for transporting vegetables from Gazaria to Dhaka remains unchanged at Tk3,500, even though fuel prices have decreased.
When asked why transportation costs have not fallen, Bilal explained that this decision rests with the owners, adding that fuel prices have only decreased by two taka.
Fuel, which used to cost Tk60-65 taka per litre, rose to Tk90, then to Tk115, before falling to Tk109, and has now settled at Tk105.
However, some drivers reported a slight reduction in transportation costs.
A truck driver from Satkhira said he now charges Tk18,000 for a trip, down from the previous Tk22,000-24,000.
He attributed this decrease to fewer goods being transported, leading to an oversupply of vehicles.
Despite the drop in fuel prices and the elimination of road extortion, the anticipated reduction in commodity prices has not materialised.
To investigate further, this reporter revisited Karwan Bazar on Monday (16 September) and spoke with several consumers.
Rabbi, one consumer, expressed his frustration, saying, "Everyone says the country is newly independent, but I see no impact. Yes, there is no extortion on the roads, but has that affected the market? Prices haven’t dropped at all!"
Another shopper, Fazlu, shared similar concerns, stating that no goods in the market have become cheaper.
"Why haven’t prices decreased when there is no extortion on the roads?" he questioned.
In response, National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate Director General (Additional Responsibility) Kazi Muhammad Mozammel Haque stated that regular raids are being conducted to control prices.
However, he admitted that ongoing floods and seasonal rains across the country are contributing factors to the current situation.
Mozammel reiterated that his organisation reviews purchase prices and other expenses to regulate selling prices and that efforts to control the prices of essential goods are ongoing.
Nonetheless, consumers remain sceptical, seeing little evidence of change in the market.
