Extortion Raises Eggplant Price From 37 to 100

Extortion along the highways appears to be controlling vegetable prices. Eggplants that are sold for 37–38 BDT per kilogram at the wholesale level in northern markets are reaching Dhaka at 100 BDT per kilogram. The surge in prices seems directly linked to a chain of extortion along the supply route.

Farmers from the Mahasthan Haat in Bogura, one of the oldest and largest vegetable markets in northern Bangladesh, bring fresh vegetables and produce for sale. Here, wholesale prices are determined. For instance, one mon (approximately 40 kg) of eggplants is sold for 1,400–1,500 BDT, translating to around 35–38 BDT per kilogram. Cucumbers are priced similarly at 35–36 BDT per kilogram.

However, before reaching Dhaka, vegetables are forced to pass through a series of checkpoints where extortion is common. Farmers and traders report paying “slip fees” of 20–50 BDT per mon just to move produce, often at multiple locations. Some attempt to bypass this by loading vegetables directly onto trucks in the field, but extortionists are present there as well.

One trader stated, “The bribes we pay are often double the actual handling costs. If clearing the produce costs 500 BDT, we may have to pay 1,000 BDT in extortion fees.” Truck driver Kashem added, “Trucks are stopped randomly, and slips are demanded. Without paying, trucks cannot proceed.”

In Bogura and Sirajganj, similar practices are reported, with extortion occurring at nearly every transport stage. Even though slips sometimes carry the names of local political figures, they deny involvement. Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam clarified, “There is no formal ‘agreement’ here. Anyone collecting money on the roads is committing extortion, and we do not condone it.”

Once the vegetables reach Dhaka, wholesalers determine the retail prices, which are further inflated due to the accumulated extortion along the way. Consequently, eggplants that cost 37 BDT per kilogram at the market of origin are sold for around 100 BDT in the capital.

Comparative Vegetable Price Table

Market analysts warn that unless extortion along supply routes is curbed, retail prices will continue to rise, impacting both farmers’ incomes and consumer affordability. The cumulative effect of bribes, local tolls, and slips is a major factor in the dramatic price hike of everyday vegetables.

The pressing question remains: how much of this increase is due to “coordination fees” claimed as slips, and how much is a failure of regulatory oversight? Farmers, traders, and consumers are all paying the price for the unchecked system of roadside extortion.