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Terrors take huge toll on
businesses
By M Al-Amin
Businessmen in the country are passing through a very hard time as terrorists
are out to extort money from business establishments on gunpoint but silently
while the law-enforcers show indifferent attitude towards their plight.
Following a changeover in the helm of power, a new band of 'terrorists' having
allegiance to the new ruling party leaders are very much active in extortion
collection despite high sounding words and tough warnings from the party
top-brass and high-ups. But who cares?
On the other hand, some terror groups that were in the forefront of all
vicious activities in the capital city with the blessings of immediate past
ruling party Awami League and godfathers who went into hiding following the
defeat in October 1 election, are resurfacing in the underworld to get back to
their old ways to dominate the crime scene. Now, they have continued
negotiation on 'settlement' for their fresh return in changed circumstances
with the new ruling elite and the mid-level leaders and cadres of Jubo Dal,
Chhatra Dal and some leaders of BNP's front organisations. They are a bit
desperate to keep their existence in the crime world and for that they are
ready to make any compromise for their co-existence even by giving the new
ruling party-men upper hand and hard-cash bounty.
In the capital's crime world, there are about 40 well-organised crime gangs
who dominate all the crimes in the capital city maintaining a hierarchical
chain of command under a few godfathers, according to assessment of the
newspaper correspondents. Of the total, about 25 gangs are now maintaining
close links with the new ruling party bosses with 'negotiated deals' while the
15 others which had closeness with AL godfathers and most of their big bosses
had fled to neighbouring India and other countries, are reportedly trying to
regroup by forging links with new underworld lords for smooth running of crime
rings and all-profitable illegal drug trades. Moreover, these crime lords are
making businessmen as well as the city dwellers' life miserable by extortion
and other petty criminal activities.
While the government talks tough against criminals and crimes, most top
terrors are somehow managing their freedom from confinement and moving
scot-free. A very few were detained and some AL godfathers and crime lords are
on the run.
Despite tough government order on the police, at least verbally, to catch all
terrorists irrespective of their party affiliation, the law-enforcers are not
acting amid confusion and also to keep their nexus and all known links with
crime lords for 'mutual benefits'. So, soaring crimes are going on unabated
while terrorism and terrorists are giving a daman to the tough public talks of
politicians with whom they always maintain a close links to serve their
political agenda done and in exchange they (criminals) get the benefit of
running their crime rings smoothly.
Amid the triangular collusion among criminal, politicians and police, the
casualties are the mental peace, interest of general people and committed
businessmen who could not maintain a close link with the trio to secure their
business as well as other interests. And the crime curve is going up and the
overall law and order situation has been showing a downward trend these days.
Only a few days are left for the government to meet the deadline of 100-day
agenda to improve situation as pronounced by the Prime Minister.
Following a poor performance by the ministers concerned, the PM had expressed
her dissatisfaction over the appalling situation and rebuked the ministers in
Cabinet meetings and reminded that their jobs are on the line of fire if
situation remains the same. As the certain failure is in sight especially in
the law and order front, the government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is
mulling to extend the 100-day agenda for another 100 days.
Managing toll collectors and mustaans is nothing new for businessmen but it
has taken a new dimension with the changeover in power configuration and the
present government is no exception, although many hoped that the situation
would improve as the government got the huge mandate, two-thirds majority, for
their pre-polls pledges to root out terrorism from the country.
Unfortunately, the situation is taking its worst turn as extortionists are
showing their desperateness despite tough line on the policymakers' part. Now
from export-oriented garment factories or tanneries to small sweetmeat shops,
taxi drivers or cable television service providers everywhere, anybody can
become a victim any time of toll collectors. These days, if anyone wants to do
a business in the city peacefully, the first thing he has to do is to manage
the gangster group in his area. Otherwise, he would risk either his life or
his business.
According to businessmen in different city areas, toll collectors in most
cases are using political identity, particularly that of the ruling party and
in some cases the main opposition party as it helps them a lot to make their
hay.
Rather in an example of favour to professional
mustaans, the major cattle markets in the city were given lease on nominal
charge, half of the last year's rate. This was done to accommodate the
interest of the terrorists having nexus with ruling elite at the cost of
genuine businessmen's cause.
As the most helpless and prime targets, the representatives of different trade
bodies had already met the Prime Minister and the Home Minister and other
ministers several occasions to apprise them of their concerns, plight and
sought protection, but all seems fall on deaf ears as they only could secure
lip services, but no concrete actions were taken against their complaints
regarding extortion and threat to their business establishments. Almost all
business houses had to pay increased amount as 'mustaan tax' to various terror
groups.
The situation was even worse ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. The situation was so bad at
that time that even professional extortionists had dared to hold a conference
ahead of Eid to protect their vicious interest and collected extortion money
without any hindrance by law-enforcers who were also busy in collecting 'Eid
Bakshis' from the business houses prior to the festival. While the business
houses were in misery and unnerved amid 'dual extortion' and want the
government to act immediately to safeguard their business interest.
Only prior to the Eid, professional terror groups and various transport
related unions had collected over 200 crore Taka as extortion out of people's
plight, according to a rought estimate. And in the capital city alone crime
gangs have realised over Tk 100 crore as extortion ahead of Eid from business
houses and general people on gunpoint and even some middle class families had
to pay extortion to local boys for funding their Eid day party. While various
transport unions and extortionists of that particular sector had realised Taka
100 crore by taking extra fare, by taking advantage of the Eid rush and
people's helplessness.
Now after one Eid and much ahead of another Eid (ul-Azha), the terror groups
are meeting business leaders to have a fresh 'deal' for collecting extortion
on a regular monthly basis as such deals were in place during the previous AL
regime and AL cadres collected the bounty, now a new set of terrors have
replaced them to have their share.
Following the moratorium on the activities of the ruling party's student
front, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), its leaders and activists are rather
busy in tadbir (persuasion) and many forms of extortion collection giving a
damn to the harsh words used by none but the Prime Minister herself. Some top
businessmen and their leaders in downtown business district of Motijheel,
Dilkhusa, Gulistan, Nawabpur, Karwanbazar, Gulshan, Banani, Puranapaltan,
Maslibagh, Mouchak and some parts of the Old Dhaka --- Nayabazar, Bangshal,
Sadarghat --- clearly expressed their minds about the insecurity and worries
of the present awful situation they had to face everyday regarding extortion
and its subsequent horror.
Business people are simply terrified about their lives, future and also about
their investment as situation is getting worse everyday and politicians are
using just boasting words while law-enforcers turning blind eye to their
plights.
In Dhaka's adjoining Narayanganj, an industrial belt, the situation is even
worse as the old JCD cadres are back in action with their mighty muscle power
and simply asking the businessmen to pay the fixed amount or keep their
establishment under lock and key. A section of JCD cadres have changed their
lots within a short time and now roaming on just-bought Pajero jeeps with
their fellow cadres. Recently, top JCD cadres in the small Narayanganj town
have bought 20 Pajero jeeps, not to mention all the money paid out of
extortion.
The situation is identical in Khulna, Bagerhat, Chittagong, Barisal, Sirajganj
and other parts of the country.
Now the onus is on the government to act on an urgent basis to remove the
sufferings of the business people as they are the worst sufferers of the
extortion phobia sweeping across the country.
It's a matter of great joy and encouragement that only very recently the
situation has started to mend following the arrest of a ruling party lawmaker
and an alleged godfather of the crime world who was very influential, both in
the party and in the underworld. And the law-enforcers as well are taking the
tough talks by the Prime Minister seriously as she means business and the
overall law and order scenario is showing a positive change as some
extortionists are a bit fearful about their fate amid crackdown on their top
crime bosses. Let's hope for the best that the country's law and order
situation that does favours criminals would change soon in favour of the
businesses and peace-loving commoners and the high-ups in the government and
the ruling party would only utter what they really mean and keep on crackdowns
on crimes and criminals whatever standings they might have or who ever they
may be.
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