Thirteen people were injured on Friday night when alleged activists of a faction of Bangladesh Nationalist Party attacked three-wheeler drivers demanding extortion money at Rupatali Bus Terminal.
Seven of the injured were admitted to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. About 10 vehicles were also vandalised.
Three-wheeler drivers reported that during the Awami League鈥檚 rule, a syndicate extorted Tk 50 to Tk 70 from three-wheelers and Tk 80 to Tk 120 from passenger buses.
After the fall of the Awami League government, three-wheeler drivers stopped paying extortion money.
The drivers alleged that BNP leaders Kalam Chowdhury and Abdur Razzak and their associates began collecting Tk 100 to 120 from each bus departing the terminal and resumed extorting money from the three-wheeler stand.
When three-wheeler drivers refused to pay money, over a hundred people armed with sticks attacked them, injuring 13, including drivers on Friday night.
Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Barishal Kotwali Model police station, said the injured were preparing to file a complaint, and legal action would be taken accordingly.
