10 jailed for driving without licence

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in a mobile court drive in the capital yesterday sentenced 10 drivers to one month's imprisonment each for operating vehicles without driving licences.

BRTA's Executive Magistrate Mazharul Islam led the drive in Mirpur-10, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-2, Shyamoli and on Manik Mia Avenue from 8:30am till 4:30pm. The mobile court also filed 24 cases and realised Tk 53,000 in fines for traffic rules violations, said the magistrate.

The traffic division (west) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police assisted the mobile court.

Among the drivers, four were driving buses while six others were human haulier drivers.

Asked, if they found any underage driver, Mazharul said the drivers claimed their age to be between 20 and 21. However, the mobile court could not verify that instantly, he added.

One of the 10 penalised drivers, Milon, who was driving a bus, tried to run away, but police caught him. Milon claimed that he had left his driving licence at home. Later, his brother came with the licence, but his punishment was not withdrawn.

As it was a government holiday yesterday, there were fewer vehicles on roads.

Asked, why they chose a holiday for conducting such a drive, the magistrate said, “Generally, drivers take leave on holidays and their helpers sit behind the wheel. So, we conducted the drive to catch the drivers without licences.”

The executive magistrate said they would continue the drive regularly in the capital.