Dhaka, Feb. 21 -- The Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has voiced strong concern and criticised the remarks made by Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, alleging he has attempted to legitimise extortion in the transport sector by describing certain roadside toll collections as consensual transactions.

In a statement issued on Friday, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the minister's definition of extortion stood in stark contradiction to the strong anti-corruption commitments repeatedly declared by members of the cabinet after assuming office.

If the government's repeated promises to curb corruption were genuine and not merely rhetorical, then the minister's statement must be rejected at the hig...