Dhaka, Jan. 4 -- Household waste collectors have taken to the streets in Dhaka's Mirpur, protesting alleged extortion by local political figures.

The three-wheeler drivers, who collect garbage from residential buildings, said they were being forced to pay large sums of money as extortion.

Around 10am on Sunday, several garbage-laden vans were placed across the road in the Mirpur-10 area, disrupting traffic movement.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sanawar Hossain of the Mirpur traffic division said some sanitation workers had obstructed traffic by leaving their vans on the road.

"They blocked the road around 10am. After 20 to 25 minutes, police took them to the city corporation office," he said.

Mirpur Model Police Station chief Sajjad ...