The sufferings of passengers on the way to India through Darsana International Check-post have increased abnormally due to the menace of the brokers (dalals). The brokers are also learnt to harass the passengers returning from India in various ways.
The vicious circles of brokers have turned reckless as the forces engaged in maintaining the law and order situation of the Checkpost are taking no action against those brokers.
To get rid of harassment, many India-bound passengers are using alternative routes even at an exorbitant fare.
There are allegations that the circles of brokers are realising Taka 200 to 2,000 each from the in and outgoing passengers to India on various pleas, even often threatening them.
Those brokers are also learnt to harass the passengers refusing to pay the amount.
They even snatched the passports and goods of the passengers if no money was paid to them.
It is learnt, earlier with the intervention of the Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Darsana checkpost turned broker-free for the time being.
But, it turned into a Safe Heaven for Brokers once again.
According to sources, nearly 1,000 passengers daily on average visited India through this checkpost during the last one month.
Assuring the passengers to get rid of the queues for a long time and to perform their jobs at Customs and Immigration soon, the brokers charge a huge sum of money from the passengers.
The passengers who do not agree to pay money to the brokers for this purpose are often harassed by those brokers in various ways.
Nipa Khatun of Rajshahi went to India for the treatment of her husband through Darshana land port on 24 February. A broker named Dulal at the checkpost realised Taka 500 from her by threatening her in various ways.
After treatment of her husband, she returned to Darshana Checkpost on Wednesday afternoon.
The broker Dulal the same day snatched away Nipa's passport demanding Taka 500 from her to accelerate the works of Immigration and Customs.
When Nipa refused to pay the sum, Dulal threatened her and at a stage, Nipa was forced to pay him Taka 200. Liakat Ali (Pseudonym) of Jibonagar Municipal Area went to India recently for treatment.
He returned through Darshana Checkpost two days ago. He complained, a broker named Dulal realised Taka 200 from him during his departure and also realised Tk 200 more during his arrival.
He said the Circles of Brokers at this Checkpost are so vicious that it is almost impossible to perform the jobs of Immigration and Customs without their intervention. He strongly demanded the Administration to make the Darshana International Checkpost free of brokers.
A Van-puller who often carries passengers to and from Darshana Checkpost informed whenever a passenger reaches Darshana Checkpost, the brokers almost snatched away the passport from him/her.
Then assuring him/her to perform all jobs of Immigration and Customs as soon as possible, they realised Taka 200 to 2,000 from each passenger. If anyone refused to pay the money, the brokers harassed and misbehaved with them.
Even, these brokers snatched away goods from the possession of the passengers returning from India.
He further said, if the Darshana Checkpost is not made free from the brokers, the number of passengers through this checkpost would decrease in the near future.
Atik Hasan, Immigration in Charge of Darshana International Checkpost informed, no passenger has so far complained to him in this connection. If any complaint is received from any passenger against anyone, the necessary action must be taken, he added.