Porters rampage continue at Sadarghat terminal
Chandpur-going Masudur Rahman just alighted from a rickshaw outside Sadarghat launch terminal with two heavy bags.
As he reached gate-3, three men surrounded him and asked to give his bags to them for carriage in exchange for Tk 1,000.
Masud refused to pay the porters the money and sought to carry the bags alone, but they gripped him tightly and forced him to pay.
Such a scene is not uncommon at Sadarghat launch terminal. Such daylight robbery by porters remains unchecked where passengers are taken hostage when they visiting the jetty with luggage. Sources said porters harass passengers even in front of the strong surveillance of police and BIWTA personnel.
With support from local political figures, the sources added, they are doing the illegal job fearlessly.
During a spot visit, this correspondent noticed that whenever a passenger reaches the terminal, porters rush in and force him or her to carry their bags. If anyone protests, they are bound to be harassed.
Despite carrying a small bag, one has to pay a minimum of Tk 50. If the bag is big, the rate becomes higher.
Porters fix haulage charges at their sweet will. Nobody can make any compromise with them.
BIWTA has fixed Tk 10 for a porter for carrying goods less than 10kg, Tk 20 for 10kg and Tk 30 for 30kg.
By contrast, porters’ willful demand for extras has made passengers to suffer immensely. Kauser Ahmed, who runs a lathe in Jatrabari area, has to go to Bhola at least twice a month. He said, “I have to go to my village home every month by launch. But I often fall into the porters’ trap…”
Barisal-bound Tofazzal Hossain alleged that he was carrying a lightweight cooling fan. No sooner had he entered into gate-2, two men grabbed him from behind and caught hold of his luggage. He paid them Tk 300.
When asked, a porter, Rahmatullah, said, “We have to work according to the order that comes from on high. We get only a minimal amount of the money.”
BIWTA joint director (naval security and traffic management division) Joynal Abedin is aware of the porters’ overindulgence.
“Surveillance has been stepped up to stop such activities. Harassed passengers should make complaint before leaving the terminal. Otherwise, it is tough to take immediate action,” he told Bangladesh Post.
“We previously took action against such sharp practices but every time all ended up in smoke because of the porters’ unholy nexus with local politicians.”
(The article was first published on Bangladesh Post)
As he reached gate-3, three men surrounded him and asked to give his bags to them for carriage in exchange for Tk 1,000.
Masud refused to pay the porters the money and sought to carry the bags alone, but they gripped him tightly and forced him to pay.
Such a scene is not uncommon at Sadarghat launch terminal. Such daylight robbery by porters remains unchecked where passengers are taken hostage when they visiting the jetty with luggage. Sources said porters harass passengers even in front of the strong surveillance of police and BIWTA personnel.
With support from local political figures, the sources added, they are doing the illegal job fearlessly.
During a spot visit, this correspondent noticed that whenever a passenger reaches the terminal, porters rush in and force him or her to carry their bags. If anyone protests, they are bound to be harassed.
Despite carrying a small bag, one has to pay a minimum of Tk 50. If the bag is big, the rate becomes higher.
Porters fix haulage charges at their sweet will. Nobody can make any compromise with them.
BIWTA has fixed Tk 10 for a porter for carrying goods less than 10kg, Tk 20 for 10kg and Tk 30 for 30kg.
By contrast, porters’ willful demand for extras has made passengers to suffer immensely. Kauser Ahmed, who runs a lathe in Jatrabari area, has to go to Bhola at least twice a month. He said, “I have to go to my village home every month by launch. But I often fall into the porters’ trap…”
Barisal-bound Tofazzal Hossain alleged that he was carrying a lightweight cooling fan. No sooner had he entered into gate-2, two men grabbed him from behind and caught hold of his luggage. He paid them Tk 300.
When asked, a porter, Rahmatullah, said, “We have to work according to the order that comes from on high. We get only a minimal amount of the money.”
BIWTA joint director (naval security and traffic management division) Joynal Abedin is aware of the porters’ overindulgence.
“Surveillance has been stepped up to stop such activities. Harassed passengers should make complaint before leaving the terminal. Otherwise, it is tough to take immediate action,” he told Bangladesh Post.
“We previously took action against such sharp practices but every time all ended up in smoke because of the porters’ unholy nexus with local politicians.”
(The article was first published on Bangladesh Post)
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