Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern and condemnation over Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam’s remarks that appear to justify road extortion by referring to it as a transaction based on mutual understanding. The organization also urged Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to give the highest priority to purging his own party to prevent the growth of such corruption-facilitating practices. “Through this statement, the Transport Minister has embarrassingly undermined his party’s electoral commitments and the prime minister’s anti-corruption position,” Iftekharuzzaman said. He also recalled that in February 2012, a road minister in the then-authoritarian government attempted a similar move to legalize road extortion, which TIB had strongly protested. “Honorable prime minister, now is the time to determine the right priorities,” he said.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 20, 2026 12:37 UTC