With Eid-ul-Adha approaching, preparations are underway to transport cattle from the north and southwest regions of the country to large city markets like Dhaka. But drivers and cattle traders are already troubled by rampant extortion on the highways.
Traders report being stopped multiple times during transport and forced to pay “fees,” sometimes in the name of labor unions, political affiliations, or under the protection of law enforcement. Those who refuse to pay face harassment or even vehicle seizure.
Cattle trader Jahangir Alam, en route from Chuadanga to Dhaka, told Daily Post, “We have to pay tolls at five or six places every year. Some claim it`s for organizations, others say it’s political. Getting through the road feels like a battlefield.”
Traders say each cattle truck must pay between Tk 8,000 and 12,000 in unofficial tolls. This dramatically increases transport costs, which eventually pushes up cattle prices, affecting consumers.
Eid cattle markets are tied to a billion-taka economy in Bangladesh. Extortion here disrupts the entire market structure.
Law enforcement says patrols have been intensified to prevent extortion, and special monitoring is being carried out on highways. Immediate action will be taken against any irregularities, they say.
But cattle traders stress that promises are not enough—immediate and effective action on the ground is essential. Otherwise, the extortion racket will continue to destabilize the cattle market each year before Eid.
