Extortion will no longer be tolerated: DMP chief

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sk Md Sazzat Ali warned that no one will be allowed to extort money from the hard-earned income of rickshaw drivers.

Addressing complaints of extortion by local influential figures, the commissioner assured the drivers that extortion would no longer be tolerated.

"A person sells a product for Tk 300 on the roads, and an extortionist takes Tk 100 — this will not continue."

He urged rickshaw drivers to provide the names of the extortionists and promised strict action.

"If you see no action being taken, I will leave this job," he asserted.

The commissioner also warned that if any police personnel are found involved in extortion, they will face severe consequences.

"They (extortionists) will not be spared," he stated firmly.

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Battery-run rickshaw drivers sit with DMP commissioner

To tackle extortion, the DMP chief advised forming committees involving police and local community members.

Regarding the High Court order on battery rickshaws, he said a writ petition has already been filed by the government seeking to stay the HC order, and the authorities will act in accordance with the court's directives.

The DMP chief made the remarks during a meeting with the drivers of battery-run rickshaws and easy bikes at his office in the capital today.

He also warned that officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations will face suspension if they refuse to register cases after incidents that require legal action.

"If an incident occurs and requires filing a case and the OC refuses to register it, inform me, and I will suspend the OC," he said in response to a participant who reported being attacked by local goons in Kamrangirchar.