The order came from the first meeting of the newly formed 10-member committee headed by Communication Minister Barrister Nazmul Huda in order to restore discipline in the transport sector.

The meeting issued a strict order that bus owners will not pay any money to any association or organisation while commissioning any new bus on any route.

It also expressed the government's firm resolve to stop extortion and violence in the transport sector.

Meeting sources told UNB that law enforcing agencies have been directed to arrest and file cases under the speedy trial act against anyone indulging in extortion or toll collection in the name of any organisation or association.

Bus owners, employees and others concerned have been requested to take help from law enforcing agencies in case of any attempt by anyone to collect toll at bus terminals.

If law enforcing agencies fail to take necessary legal action against toll collectors, "stern action would be taken against them," said a source.

The meeting observed that bus fares as well as prices of vegetables and other consumer goods would remain stable if extortion and toll collection could be stopped in the transport sector.

The meeting further observed that extortion incidents at bus terminals have gone down substantially after the anticrime drive was launched in Dhaka City.