Extortionists Demand 100,000 Taka per Footpath Shop in Khilgaon Taltala Market

Dhaka, July 14, 2025 – The footpath shops in front of Khilgaon Taltala City Corporation Super Market in the capital have been forcibly cleared by extortionists, leaving the area devoid of vendors. Last week, new controllers took over the footpath and evicted all shopkeepers, creating a clear space for shoppers but with a hidden motive: extracting hefty extortion fees.

According to sources, the new controllers are demanding a one-time payment of 100,000 taka per shop from footpath vendors to allow them to resume business. Additionally, shopkeepers must pay a monthly extortion fee to continue operating. For the past week, vendors have been barred from setting up their stalls due to their inability or refusal to pay these sums. Over 100 shops once thrived on this bustling footpath, but the area now stands empty.

The situation has left shopkeepers in distress. Many had paid 100,000 taka less than a year ago to secure their spots under the previous controllers, who fled after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. The new controllers have announced that shops can resume operations only after paying the new one-time fee of 100,000 taka, along with ongoing monthly payments. However, they offer no guarantee of permanent access, stating that control over the footpath depends on the outcome of upcoming elections. Two affected shopkeepers, overheard on a battery-powered rickshaw heading toward Banashree, shared their plight with this reporter. One vendor lamented, “Even if we pay another 100,000 taka, there’s no assurance we can stay permanently. They say it’s only until the next election, and the fate of the shops depends on who wins.” The shopkeepers revealed that pleas and negotiations have been futile, with the controllers insisting on the payment. Shops are being allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and delays could result in losing a spot entirely. When asked who these new controllers are, one shopkeeper hinted, “It’s not hard to figure out who has the power to control the footpath now.” However, neither vendor explicitly named the controllers or their affiliated group, likely out of fear.