The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Representatives of ten thousand shoe traders of Gulistan and Fulbaria at a crowded press conference in the city alleged that they were held hostage by a group of extortionists.

Awlad Hossain, president of BTRC 4th floor market CBS-2, told journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday that one such cheater Tokai Master Hai has been regularly taking extortion money from the ten shoe markets of Gulistan, Fulbaria, Bangabazar and Siddikbazar areas.

At the press briefing, attended by businessmen, employees and labourers of the markets, Aulad alleged that Tokai Master Hai has demanded Tk 50 lakh from the businessmen of the ten markets at different times.

He sought the intervention of the authority to free them from the hands of cheater Tokai Master Hai and demanded his immediate arrest.

Referring to the slump in the shoe trade, he said since China took over 50 per cent of the country's global shoe market. "We are somehow keeping the shoe industry alive in the country, but being hounded by extortionist like Tokai Master Hai most of the businessman are facing ruination."

He said, "We pay the Government Tk 200 crore in revenue and sell about 4000 crore pairs of shoes per year. If this industry is closed some 11 lakh people will lose their jobs."

The businessmen prayed to the Chief Adviser, Home Affairs Adviser, Home Secretary, Chief of Army, IGP and RAB DG for fair investigation to save the shoe industry from the hands of extortionists.