CMP won't check vehicle documents to avoid gridlocks

On-duty traffic police of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) will not check documents of running vehicles in the city during Ramadan to avoid causing gridlocks. Moreover, long vehicles would not be allowed to ply from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the evening everyday during the month.

In addition, around 500 community police members along with police personnel will be deployed from the first day of Ramadan in different parts of the city to oversee traffic movement.

The decisions were taken by CMP yesterday after holding a meeting with businessmen, hawker leaders, transport leaders and representatives from shopping malls at Dampara CMP Police Lines.

Presided over by CMP's Additional Commissioner (Administration and Finance) Masood-ul-Hasan, the meeting was also attended by Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Kusum Dewan, Additional Commissioner (Crime) Amena Begum and other high officials of CMP.

After holding the meeting, Masood-ul-Hasan said, “If police have any concrete information on criminal activities, then they will check a vehicle,” adding that the goods-laden trucks and covered vans, except those carrying perishable items, will stay outside the city on the highway during the day and enter the city at night in Ramadan.

“Dilapidated conditions of some key roads, including Port Connecting Road and Agrabad Access Road -- caused by on-going development work -- are also responsible for traffic congestion. Police are requesting the authorities concerned, including the city corporation and Wasa, to repair the roads on urgently,” said Kusum Dewan.

Dewan also added, “Police will not allow any parking in front of Mimi Super Market, as it creates major gridlocks.”

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Amena Begum said additional police forces will be deployed to curb criminal activities across the city during Ramadan.

“Police will focus on arresting muggers and pickpockets so that people can move easily in the city,” added Amena.