An armed gang has forcibly seized control of five human-haulier (locally known as leguna) stands in Dhaka’s Mirpur area, demanding a daily extortion levy of 300 Taka per vehicle and physically assaulting transport owners who resisted. The Greater Mirpur Leguna Owners and Workers Union disclosed the incident during a press conference at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on Friday afternoon, urging law enforcement to investigate the takeover, arrest the perpetrators, and safeguard transport operators.
Addressing journalists, the president of the union, Md Yaqub Ali, stated that the violent takeover occurred at around 11:30 am on 5 October. An armed group of 60 to 70 individuals brandished weapons to intimidate operators and seized five key terminals situated in Section 1 of Mirpur. The union linked several key perpetrators to supporters and associates of SA Siddique Saju, an independent political candidate from the Dhaka-14 constituency.
During the press briefing, union representatives named nine specific individuals allegedly spearheading the extortion racket: Biplob, Soleman Dewan, Faruk Hossain, Mohabbat Ali, Mavel Bhuiyan, Taiyab Ali, Alamgir Hossain, Shamim, and Mojibor Rahman. According to the union, this syndicate of 60 to 70 men has not only seized the transport hubs but is also attempting to systematically extort money from local footpath vendors throughout the area.
Transport owners faced severe intimidation after refusing to pay the mandatory fee of 300 Taka per vehicle. When operators resisted the demands, members of the syndicate launched physical attacks on several owners, including Md Yaqub Ali, Nazrul Islam, and Babul. Yaqub Ali displayed physical injuries sustained during the assault and confirmed that medical records, treatment certificates, and injury reports remain safely preserved as evidence.
Institutional inertia has exacerbated the crisis for the transport operators. When Yaqub Ali attempted to lodge a formal complaint at Darus Salam Police Station, officers refused to register the case. Police officials reportedly cited past extortion allegations previously leveled against Yaqub Ali, despite his full acquittal by court proceedings.
Union leaders stressed that they possess extensive CCTV footage, video documentation, and eyewitness testimonies corroborating the armed takeover and assault. Calling for an impartial probe, the union urged neutral investigative bodies to review all physical evidence and examine local security cameras. Transport leaders insisted that neither political affiliations nor social influence should shield the culprits, appealing for strict legal enforcement to allow drivers and owners to operate without fear of retaliation.
