The largest vegetable market in the country is located in Barinagar, Jashore. From there, a vegetable-laden truck traveling 200 kilometers on the highway has to pay a toll of BDT 350 at least seven checkpoints, including in Narail, Kashiani, Muksudpur, Vanga, and Jatrabari, with BDT 50 being collected at each point. This toll is collected as operational costs for road labor unions. According to relevant sources, just for these unions' operational expenses, BDT 15 million is extorted every year from roads across the country. This extortion directly impacts the prices of everyday goods, causing market prices to rise.

Sources say money collected under the name of labor unions is funneled into the pockets of local politicians, police, and influential figures. There is a growing demand to stop this roadside extortion immediately and control the prices of essential goods.

According to labor union sources, after the Awami League government came to power for its second term, Shajahan Khan took complete control of the labor unions. Within a short time, he became the president of the Workers' Federation, while Osman Ali and Mokhlesur Rahman were appointed as general secretary and joint general secretary, respectively. Shajahan Khan bypassed labor laws and road transport regulations through these two individuals. On September 10, 2020, he started collecting a BDT 50 toll for the welfare and operational costs of the labor unions. This extortion continues to this day.

The Workers' Federation set up 249 unions nationwide to collect this toll. These unions primarily collect the toll in the name of district-level labor unions on various roads. From September 10, 2020, to July 31, 2024, BDT 60.94 million was collected in 1,421 days, with each vehicle paying BDT 50. This amounts to over BDT 15 million annually.

Several labor unions have lodged complaints with the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Shajahan Khan, accusing him of embezzling the money collected for the union's operational costs. One of these unions is the Dhaka Auto Rickshaw Workers' Union. The union claims 3 lakh 24 thousand 413 auto-rickshaws nationwide run on CNG, LPG, and petrol-powered four-stroke engines. Each of these vehicles is charged BDT 50 for the operational costs of the labor union. This results in a daily toll collection of BDT 16.22 million from auto rickshaws. Similarly, tolls are collected daily from 1 lakh 6 thousand 55 auto-tempos, 55 thousand 283 buses, 9 thousand 544 cargo vans, 48 thousand 358 covered vans, and 17 thousand 383 human haulers at the same rate. Additionally, 28,369 minibusses, 163,072 pickups, 7 thousand 30 tankers, 36 thousand 111 taxicabs, and 1 lakh 52 thousand 131 trucks are also charged BDT 50 daily.

Although the Road Transport Act clearly prohibits the collection of tolls in this manner, Section 38, Subsection 3 states that no money can be illegally collected from vehicles at terminals or while traveling on roads, highways, and public places except for the designated terminal charges specified under this law.

Mohammad Hanif Khokon, General Secretary of the Dhaka Auto Rickshaw Workers' Union, told Bonik Barta, "The road law prohibits the collection of money for the welfare or operational costs of labor unions. Yet, Shajahan Khan, through his associates, has illegally issued orders to extort money nationwide. Instead of using the collected money for the union's welfare or operational expenses, he and local politicians, police, and influential figures have pocketed it. We have contacted former Road Transport and Bridges Minister (Obaidul Quader) and former Home Minister (Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal) multiple times, but they have not taken action. They, too, received a large portion of the extorted money from the roads. This is why the extortion continues."

According to the labor unions' records, around 900 buses operate in 37 districts through 120 counters at the Gabtoli terminal. In addition, hundreds of buses run on the Dhaka-Paturia route under a service called "Selfie Transport." From Gabtali to the Saturia-Ghior-Manikganj route, vehicle owners have their group named "Bus Truck Owners Group," which owns over 300 buses. There is also a separate committee for the Dhaka-Nabinagar route. Even within Dhaka, some buses operate from Gabtoli. Every bus is required to pay a toll at a fixed rate. Additionally, more than 200 vegetable-laden trucks arrive every night near Shah Ali Mazar in Mirpur 1, where tolls are collected. Depending on the vehicle, the toll varies between BDT 500 to 1,000. Even buses that do not use the terminals are forced to pay tolls, according to the transport owners.

Victims have reported that, centered around the Gabtoli terminal, millions of taka in tolls have been extorted every month in various sectors. After August 5, many identified extortionists fled, but the extortion hasn't stopped. Instead of the old ones, new individuals have now been seen collecting the tolls.

Talking to labor leaders, it was revealed that the late MP Aslamul Haque, who represented Mirpur (Dhaka-14), controlled the Gabtali terminal for a long time. His associates were known for ruthlessly extorting money from transport vehicles. During that time, Aslamul Haque's brother, Mofizul Haque Bebu, became a powerful figure at the Gabtoli terminal. Although he did not run any transport business himself, he had a significant influence as a labor federation leader and a strong presence in the transport owners' association.

Even after Aslamul Haque passed away on April 4, 2021, Mofizul Haque Bebu's influence remained intact. He continued the extortion under the leadership of the next MP, Aga Khan Mintu, who became a front for the operations. In the most recent election on January 7, Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil was elected as the MP for Dhaka-14, and he has now become the new controller of the terminal.

Haji Mohammad Ali Suba, president of the Dhaka District Bus, Minibus, and Coach Workers' Union, and his vice president Jalilur Rahman helped Shajahan Khan establish control over the Sayedabad terminal. Additionally, Kalu Sheikh, the currently absconding general secretary of the Dhaka National Workers' League, Dhaka North, collected tolls from buses and minibusses in the Mirpur area. Kalu Sheikh was also a close associate of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's APS, Hafizur Rahman Liku. Allegations suggest that Hafizur Rahman Liku also received a share of the extorted money.

When contacted for a response, the police stated that they were taking a firm stance against roadside extortion in order to control commodity prices. Enamul Haque Sagar, the Additional Inspector General of Police (Media) at the Police Headquarters, told Bonik Barta, "Special instructions have been given to police officers at the field level to stop extortion and robbery on roads and highways. Strict actions are being taken wherever reports of extortion are received. We also act based on information from the public. The police are firmly committed to preventing criminal activity, including extortion and robbery."