13 injured in alleged BNP attack on three-wheeler drivers in Barishal demanding extortion money

Thirteen people were injured when alleged followers of a BNP leader attacked three-wheeler drivers in Barishal, demanding extortion money.

The incident took place at Rupatali Bus Terminal in the city around 9:30pm yesterday (30 August).

Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station, said the injured were preparing to file a complaint, and legal action would be taken accordingly.

Three-wheeler drivers said during the Awami League’s regime, a syndicate extorted Tk50 to Tk70 from them and Tk80 to Tk120 from passenger buses. After the fall of the AL government, three-wheeler drivers stopped paying that money.

The drivers alleged that Metropolitan BNP Member Secretary Zia Uddin Sikder’s followers, led by Kalam Chowdhury and Abdur Razzak, recently began collecting Tk100 to Tk120 from each bus departing the terminal and resumed extorting money from the three-wheeler stand.

A driver who was injured in the attack said over a hundred people armed with sticks attacked them when they refused to pay the money.

Ward-25 BNP Senior Joint Convener Rajib Mollah said seven of the injured were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital. 

About 8-10 vehicles were vandalised by the attackers, he added.

Aktaruzzaman Dolon, member of the Bus Owners Association and convenor of Ward-25 BNP, said a syndicate, including Kalam and Razzak posing as the leaders of the labour union, has been extorting money. 

Contacted, Metropolitan BNP Member Secretary Zia Uddin Sikder did not comment on the matter.