Babubazar Bridge: The hub of extortion and mugging

Babubazar Bridge, one of the busiest gateways to Dhaka, faces relentless traffic jams, blaring horns, and surging crowds every morning. Behind this congestion lies a deeply entrenched, multi-layered extortion ring, alongside frequent mugging incidents. Unauthorized auto-rickshaw and auto-van stands line both ends of the bridge, makeshift vegetable markets block pedestrian walkways, early-morning poultry trucks are stopped for illegal tolls, and muggings spike after dark. Reports indicate that multiple syndicates control these operations, allegedly sharing the proceeds with certain local political leaders and corrupt police personnel.

Traffic across the Buriganga via the Postogola and Babubazar bridges surged significantly following the opening of the Padma Bridge, escalating further after damage to the Postogola Bridge diverted additional vehicles here. Long-distance buses, trucks, and covered vans running between Gabtoli, Aminbazar, Old Dhaka, Savar, and Gazipur heavily rely on this route. However, the primary bottleneck stems from nearly 300 illegal passenger auto-vans and around 250 CNG-run auto-rickshaws parked right on the the structure. These vehicles pick up passengers on the very bridge and frequently execute U-turns mid-way, creating severe gridlock.

According to vehicle operators, a number of 250  CNG Auto-rickshaws pay Tk600 daily and therefore, Tk4.5 million per month.

Auto-vans: Some 300 vehicles pay Tk400 daily and a total of Tk3.6 million per month is collected. As a result total monthly collection stands at TK8.1 million, or Tk 81 Lakh (from these mere two sources.)

Transport drivers express deep frustration over the constant gridlock caused by these parked vehicles. A driver for Ilish Paribahan said that traffic volume has increased tenfold due to the Padma Bridge opening and the damage to the Postogola Bridge. And, on top of that, unauthorized auto-vans and auto-rickshaws are causing various disruptions.

A driver for Shotabdi Paribahan said that confronting these illegal operators often results in gang assaults, adding that repeated complaints to traffic police have yielded no action. On-site investigations revealed over a hundred auto-rickshaws parked right beside the traffic police box at the base of the bridge. Drivers who fail to pay the set bribe face towing fines of Tk1,200. Local fixers—identified as Billal, Ripon, Roni, Monir, Shakhawat, and Farooq—allegedly assist traffic police in running this detention racket. Video evidence of these operations has been documented.

Tk 4.5 Million Collected Monthly from Auto-rickshaws
At any given time, 20 to 25 CNG auto-rickshaws remain parked right at the bridge entrance. While these specific vehicles are restricted from entering inner Dhaka city, approximately 250 auto-rickshaws operate continuously across the bridge to facilitate local transport.

According to the drivers, Tk 600 is collected from each vehicle every day. An advance payment of around Tk 30,000 is required to add a new vehicle to the route. Locals allege that two people, Faruk and Billal, control the operation. The drivers claim that the fare for crossing the bridge was previously Tk 5 per person, but it has now increased to Tk 20. There are also allegations that many of those who collected extortion money during the Awami League government are still active in the same way.

According to local sources, the extortion operation is controlled from the garage where the autorickshaws are kept. This is because the extortionists changed their tactics after RAB raided the area and arrested a line-man named Manik. Around Tk 150,000 is reportedly collected every day, amounting to Tk 4.5 million a month. Some political leaders on both sides of the bridge allegedly receive a share of the money. Traffic police and the local police are also accused of taking a share.

Tk 3.6 million from auto-vans: Hundreds of passenger-carrying auto-vans are lined up near the stairs on the Dhaka side, roughly in the middle of the bridge. Tk 400 is reportedly collected from each van every day, generating around Tk 3.6 million a month. Two people, Rana and Sajjad, are allegedly involved in collecting the money.

Chicken vans in the morning, vegetable market in the afternoon: Early every morning, vans and pickups loaded with chickens are reportedly stopped at the Keraniganj end of the bridge, with Tk 50 to Tk 100 collected from each vehicle by a group allegedly led by a person named Akash. Traders say that if payment is delayed, the group sometimes takes away chickens as well. One chicken trader told this reporter, “The country is still under the grip of extortionists. During the Awami League era, we used to pay Tk 20; now we have to pay Tk 50 to Tk 100.”

Meanwhile, a syndicate is allegedly running a vegetable market along the pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge from 3pm until 11:30pm. Around Tk 200 is reportedly collected every day from each of nearly 60 shops, generating approximately Tk 360,000 a month.

There are also allegations that market waste is dumped into the Buriganga River under the cover of darkness. Several boatmen told this reporter that as soon as it is 11pm, vendors begin throwing the vegetable market's waste into the river. At times, the waste falls on passengers or boatmen.

Fear of mugging after sunset: Alongside extortion, Babubazar Bridge has also become a source of fear because of mugging. Faisal, a chemical trader from Armanitola, said, “A short while after I got into a rickshaw in the evening, four people stopped it, showed weapons and snatched Tk 6,000 from me.” Zakir, a cloth trader of Islampur, said he had been doing business in the area for three decades. Mugging existed before as well, he said, but it has increased further now.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Lalbagh Kotwali Zone Babubazar Traffic Inspector Bidyut said, “Transport on Babubazar Bridge is increasing continuously. Autorickshaws and passenger-carrying auto-vans are operating there. Repossession drives are conducted from time to time. However, we are unable to manage the situation because of local political leaders. If the government issues a gazette notification, we will be able to take immediate action.”

DMP Lalbagh Division Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman said, “A few days ago, we conducted a major operation in the area and arrested several extortionists and brought them under the law. Besides, whenever such allegations are received from any area, immediate action is being taken.”