Mymensingh Correspondent:
CNG-powered autorickshaw drivers protested by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Trishal area of Mymensingh, demanding an end to extortion. This caused severe traffic congestion on the highway for about an hour.
On Sunday (February 22, 2026), around 10:30 am, the drivers blocked the highway in front of the EVA filling station, about one kilometer away from the Trishal bus stand. At that time, traffic on both sides of the road was completely stopped and long-distance buses, trucks and small vehicles were stuck, creating a long traffic jam. This caused extreme suffering to the passengers.
The protesting drivers alleged that extortion is being regularly collected on the road in the name of ‘GP’ and the amount of that extortion has recently been increased. They claimed that they are being affected by the pressure of excessive extortion. They took to the road blockade to protest this situation.
On receiving the information, the police reached the spot and held talks with the drivers. Considering the public inconvenience, the drivers withdrew the blockade at one stage. Later, traffic movement on the highway returned to normal.
Trishal Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Firoz Hossain said that there is no incident of extortion from transport in the Trishal area. The drivers had come together and blocked the highway after raising the allegation of extortion in Mymensingh city. Currently, the situation is calm and traffic is normal.
Although the incident caused temporary tension in the area, the situation was quickly brought under control with the intervention of the police.