Video of biker “making away without paying” Padma Bridge toll goes viral

A video of a motorbike making away without paying toll at Padma Bridge has gone viral on social media.

This correspondent, however, could not confirm whether the incident happened at Mawa Toll Plaza in Munshiganj or Shariatpur's Jazira Toll Plaza. The authorities of the two toll plazas have denied that this incident happened.

In the video, it is seen that on the night of June 26, 2022, the motorbike approached the toll plaza booth. The toll collector was ready to give the token to the biker, but the latter sped away without paying.  

The toll plaza staff could not stop the biker as he was inside the booth. There were no security guards to stop the motorcycle either.

Seeking anonymity, a toll collector working at Mawa Toll Plaza said that on June 26, when Padma Bridge was opened to traffic, there was a rush of motorbikes. Many bikers were gathering in front of the toll plaza. Staff members were having a difficult time getting them to stop to pay toll.

Tofazzal Hossain, supervising engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Department at Mawa Toll Plaza, told The Daily Star that there is no scope to enter the bridge without paying toll. On the first day, there was a lot of pressure of motorbikes, "but I was in the toll plaza, and I didn't see any speed away without paying. If anyone tries to cross the bridge without paying toll, they are immediately caught by the security personnel."

He said work is underway to install CCTV cameras at Mawa Toll Plaza.

Abul Hossain, supervising engineer of Bangladesh Bridge Department at Jazira Toll Plaza, said that on June 26, bikers paid toll with much enthusiasm. Many of them took pictures of paying toll and uploaded those on Facebook.

The two officials claimed that entering the bridge without paying toll, as being claimed in the viral video, is not true.