Karwan Bazar, the largest wholesale kitchen market in the capital, remains a safe haven for extortionists, who operate with impunity thanks to backing from a section of law enforcers.
After the triple-murder a week ago, police vigilance there has increased, yet extortion is still rampant.
The Daily Star correspondents have talked to traders in Karwan Bazar several times since three including two businessmen were killed on June 26 apparently in reprisal for efforts to stop extortion.
Most of those interviewed said they still had to pay large sums to the crime gangs to stay in business.
Police however claim the situation has improved after they stepped up activities. More intelligence and plainclothes police officers are now working to check crimes in the area.
A wholesaler speaking in return for anonymity said police watch on the market is nothing new. But it hardly works, as many of the law enforcers deployed become a part of the crime syndicate.
For criminals and law enforcers alike, Karwan Bazar is a place to make a quick buck.
Political elements are always at play in organised crime there. A change of government means little difference to the way the market is run.
Criminal groups with strong connections in the new ruling party or alliance replace those backed by influential people in the immediate past government.
Around Tk 5 lakh is extorted from legal and illegal businesses every day, say persons involved in various trade associations.
The entire process is coordinated by local leaders of the ruling party.
A businessman, who sees a big slice off his profit go to extortionists, said, “People like me are hostage to crime gangs. We don’t feel safe talking about it, as the extortionists, mostly having links to the ruling party, work with the connivance of the law enforcers. We have just resigned ourselves to living with that.”
Many officials of Tejgaon Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Karwan Bazar, have links with the extortionists, say market sources.
Deputy Commissioner Chowdhury Manjurul Karim of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Tejgaon zone) told The Daily Star, “We haven’t yet got any complaint accusing policemen of complicity in extortion. We will take stern action if anyone is found guilty.”
DMP Commissioner AKM Shahidul Haque said he had heard about involvement of some law enforcers in extortion. It however needs investigation to see if the allegation is true, he added.
Some wholesalers observed that the market was almost free from extortion during the caretaker government rule.
During the BNP-led four-party rule, ward BNP leaders Lutfur Rahman, Wahid Mullah, and Gazi Abbas, who was murdered a few years back, would look after the extortion network and liaise with the law enforcers.
They went into hiding as soon as the caretaker administration launched a crackdown on crime.
The BNP-backed groups however could not make a return as the Awami League-led grand alliance came to power in the December 29 election.
The sources say seven people were killed in last five months in feuds over extortion in the premier kitchen market. The number of deaths is no less than 40 in last 10 years.
Mamun, office-secretary of Juba League Dhaka city unit (north), who was killed by a rival group one and a half months ago, had taken over the reins of the crime syndicate after the AL-led alliance took office in January.
He had the market divided into different zones and engaged the ruling party men to collect money.
He used to have Tk 2.1 lakh from seven residential hotels every month. The amount was in addition to that from wholesale stores and drugs spots.
Fish traders allege Sayem, locally known as a Chhatra League leader, collects Tk 4,000 from them every day.
AL leaders Litchi, Razzak, Sumon, Faruque, Sohel and their men collect tolls at over 150 spots on the footpaths in Karwan Bazar. Besides, they force over 200 wholesale vegetable shops on the footpaths to pay them a handsome amount.
Some of the law enforcers posted at Karwan Bazar also allow drug peddling in exchange for hefty sums. Around 200 drug pushers are active in the rail line slums, say the sources.
Besides, allegations are rife that police receive money from hoteliers who allow illicit activities at their hotels.
The ones, who collect the money and hand that to the syndicate leaders and law enforcement and intelligence officials, are known as linemen.
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