Household waste collectors take to streets in Mirpur, alleging extortion by local political figures

Household waste collectors have taken to the streets in Dhaka’s Mirpur, protesting alleged extortion by local political figures.

The three-wheeler drivers, who collect garbage from residential buildings, said they were being forced to pay large sums of money as extortion.

Around 10am on Sunday, several garbage-laden vans were placed across the road in the Mirpur-10 area, disrupting traffic movement.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sanawar Hossain of the Mirpur traffic division said some sanitation workers had obstructed traffic by leaving their vans on the road.

“They blocked the road around 10am. After 20 to 25 minutes, police took them to the city corporation office,” he said.

Mirpur Model Police Station chief Sajjad Roman said the van drivers had complained that unidentified individuals demand between Tk 100 and Tk 200 from them whenever they go out with their vans.

“Another issue is that they dump waste outside the areas designated by the city corporation, which local residents do not like. That is largely what led to the dispute,” the OC said, adding that police later explained the matter to them and sent them to the city corporation office.

Mohammad Faruk, a waste collector, said he removes garbage from about 35 buildings in one alley, covering roughly 300 flats.

“I pull the van two to three times a day to collect waste. If I have to pay Tk 6,000 to Tk 7,000 in extortion every month, what will I eat?” he said.

Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in the capital.

Last week, traders came under attack while holding a human chain programme at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka to protest extortion.

The traders said they had gathered after extortion had continued in the area for several months. They were assaulted suddenly shortly after the programme began.

The traders alleged that leaders and activists of the Jubo Dal were involved in the attack, though police did not confirm the claim.