The Daily Star's report on illegal toll collection by a gang of extortionists in collusion with DNCC staff highlights an undeniable fact. The practice of extortion from truck and other vehicle drivers as well as traders has flourished because of the involvement of corrupt officials of the city corporation.

The investigation has found that a well organised gang has been operating for the past few months charging each truck Tk 50 at night and Tk 10 for each CNG-run three-wheeler and rickshaw van for parking in the Karwan Bazar wholesale kitchen market. Parking is supposed to be free throughout the night with trucks being allowed into the city after 10pm.

Unsurprisingly, the rate of extortion has doubled in the month of Ramadan to make sure that the extortionists can fill their pockets before Eid holidays. It has been found out that since the expiration of a lease given to a private firm to carry out the parking fee collection on behalf of the DNCC, the city corporation has taken over the task. But while doing so, some of its members have been making a quick buck by assisting the extortionists.

Such blatant corruption must be remedied immediately. The mayor of the DNCC is morally obligated to investigate the matter and take proper action against his errant officials. The Karwan Bazar operation is but a small instance of the widespread extortion being carried out by goons with the support of corrupt public representatives.