Staff Reporter :: Extortion can’t be stopped in the hill area. Whether big or small extortion. After hill peace agreement, almost two centuries of the Highlands became a state of extortion. For a long time the extortion culture has been going on, Extortion has become a common practice for the people here. But the local administration also took a tough stand against the extortionists in the Highlands in order to cope with the irregularities in the country. Due to the vigorous surveillance of the administration, the big extortionists  are a bit quiet the town area, but the looters continue to extortion.

From local administration to central government policy makers despite being in a tight position,
extortion is underway at Rangamati.  Starting from the contractor, small traders are not getting away. No one can escape the extortionists’ hands. Such a picture has been seen in Rangamati city. Rangamati District has Directorate General of Forces Intelligence -DGFI, National Security Intelligence-NSI, Army Security Force-SU, Field Intelligence Force-FIU, District Special Branch of Police and local police and law enforcement officers.  These donations are being used by some club members during the city market days.
If this is the case in urban areas, what happens to ordinary people in long-deprived exploited rural areas who live on agricultural produce who contribute money to sell a chicken or a banana! No matter what their status is, it is impossible to guess. Because the border areas are not monitored, the administration does not have such surveillance. All the development work in the area and small business has to be done in exchange for a donation.
On January 7, the city’s Kalyanpur Bazar and Banarupa Bazaar are seen collecting donations without receipt from the vegetable vendors using the names of various clubs. But there is also doubt about whether the extortionists are members of any club.
In this regard, some vegetable dealers said, “For a long time, we have been selling goods, etc. with donations. This is nothing new, we need to sell our products I did not want to shut down my business by protesting.
What do you want to do?
Do a job, do business? Has to do with the contribution.
If you want to stay at home, you will also contribute because many clubs or political organizations pick up money by donating from house to house.
The scene of such extortion from small businessmen shows that they have got the courage to get tickets from someone else.
Rangamati Kotwali police officer in-charge (OC) Mir Jahedul Haque Roni told CHT media, “I did not know that there was extortion on the market day.Our administration is in a tight position against extortionists.Our surveillance will be further enhanced in all areas including the market.Whatever the extortionate, in our view, legal action will be taken against him.
Local people have demanded active surveillance of the administration from district upazila to remote union to reduce extortion.