Gabtoli, the largest and busiest inter-district bus terminal in Dhaka, transports nearly 100,000 passengers a day. Despite its strategic importance, the terminal has deteriorated into a hotspot for extortion, illegal occupation, and unchecked criminal activities. In the absence of proper government oversight, traffic regulation, and administrative control, a powerful extortion network virtually rule the terminal.
City and long-haul buses frequently clog the main road leading to Gabtoli, forming long queues that result in severe and recurring traffic congestion. This chaos causes daily hardship for commuters and pedestrians alike.
Local residents say the lack of an effective parking management system, along with unregulated, makeshift bus counters, has turned traffic jams into a permanent phenomenon of the area.
From the entry point to ticket counters, parking zones to boarding areas, informal toll collection is ubiquitous at every corner of the terminal. Transport operators are forced to pay unauthorised charges at every stage—from entering the terminal and parking to loading passengers and luggage.
From talking with local businessmen, transport owners, and workers it is revealed that since August 5, Gabtoli bus terminal has become almost leaderless. The leaseholder appointed by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) was ousted, and a faction of the local BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) took over the terminal’s control. The city corporation’s activities in the area have since been minimal. Designated seating and drinking water facilities for passengers and transport workers have gone out of order since long.
Although the terminal is equipped with its own power supply, lamp posts and key installations frequently remain without electricity for extended periods. Shopkeepers allege that a large section of the terminal is deliberately kept in darkness, enabling criminal activities to continue unhindered.
DNCC officials said that once the terminal is leased out, overall management becomes the responsibility of the lessee. However, sanitation workers and a few specific responsibilities are still under DNCC.
According to sources, about 900 buses operate daily from the terminal across 37 districts via 120 counters. Additionally, hundreds of buses use the terminal for the Dhaka-Paturia route, and many also play on the routes like Saturia-Gheor-Manikganj, Dhaka-Nabinagar, and other internal Dhaka routes.
Multiple transport insiders revealed that each bus is extorted an average of TK 400 to TK 600 daily. This money line the pockets of local influential leaders. Not just workers—even hawkers, shopkeepers, and hotel recruiters in the terminal area are reportedly forced to pay extortion fees.
Close to Gabtoli, near Shah Ali Mazar in Mirpur-1, around 200 vegetable trucks arrive at night, and extortion in extortion is also collected. Victims claim that crores of Taka in extortion used to be collected monthly from Gabtoli. Although the known extortionists fled after the August 5 incident, a new group, dubbed "Notun Morog" (New Rooster), has taken over and continues extortion in the same manner.
Local Transport Leader Haji Md Masum, currently managing the terminal, claims that only the official lease fee of Tk 50 is collected.
He alleged that since August 5, BNP activists, under the guidance of MP candidate SA Siddique Saju, have been responsible for managing the terminal.
He said they are only collecting land rent from 154 shops and now handling the lease collection.
However, according to complaints from local residents and shopkeepers, approximately 1,000 illegal shops have been set up in the terminal area, and the terminal management committee is allegedly collecting money from them on a regular basis.
However, representatives of the original leaseholder company ‘Auto Wheels’ are absent. Their designated office is locked, and adjacent to it is an office occupied by BNP activists.
Due to the absence of Sub-Inspector Anarul (on leave), Assistant Sub-Inspector Saifur Rahman is currently in charge of the police outpost at the terminal.
He said that 18 constables, 4 ASIs, and 1 SIs are deployed for terminal security. They work in shifts day and night.
However, the police rest area was vandalized during the August 5 protests, and officers are now working in dire conditions.
While visiting the terminal area, this scribbler found buses lined up along both sides of the Bypile-Gabtoli road. traffic police Wave very much there, but were almost nonchalant.
Passengers complained that boarding happens right on the road, causing sudden traffic jams. Local shopkeepers allege that a group is allowing this road parking in exchange for bribes.
The southern side of the terminal is crowded with illegal shops, tea stalls, hawkers, and loudspeaker announcements blare beyond decide.
Shopkeepers say they must pay weekly extortion to local drug-addicts, mostly youths supported by political protection.
Mehedi Hasan, DNCC’s Assistant Manager for Gabtoli Terminal, admitted that due to staff shortages, regular operations aren't feasible.
He said he doesn’t have accurate data on legal vs. illegal shops but could provide it upon reviewing official documents.
Another official said, “Within 24 hours of eviction, the shops return. Nothing happens here without approval from local power brokers. And the terminal is soon to be relocated.”
Passengers reported that they were usually surrounded by brokers before reaching counters. Sometimes, brokers forcibly take bags and push people onto specific buses. Some are involved in theft, mugging, and even harassment of female passengers.
Drug addicts gather at the rear of the terminal after dark, where cannabis, yaba, and phensedyl are openly sold. Within the knowledge of some policemen.
Experts believe the chaos at this strategically critical terminal isn't just due to negligence but stems from administrative weakness, political influence, and the activities of organized extortion gangs.
Ramesh Chandra Ghosh, owner of Shyamoli Paribahan, senior vice-chairman of the Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association, and chairman of the Bus Owners Association (Gabtoli Terminal), said, “No extortion or criminal activity has ever occurred at the terminal. Since there aren’t multiple owner or labour groups here, there’s no scope for extortion from transport workers or owners.”
Regarding off-road parking, he explained, “Only one city transport company bus departs every 10 minutes, and they park briefly, which causes the vehicle lines outside.”
However, he accused the leaseholder and city corporation of setting up extra shops within the terminal area and collecting money illegally, making it difficult for the public to enter the terminal with private vehicles.
He further alleged that “The city corporation collects money with receipts from any long-haul vehicle using the roads adjacent to terminal. This is entirely unacceptable.”
