Three-wheelers haunt Sylhet highways
The government banned three-wheelers plying on highways in August, 2015. Almost five years have gone by during which multiple High Court orders were issued, but these small slow vehicles are still readily available on national and regional highways of Sylhet.
Inadequate drives by law enforcers are giving these vehicle owners more liberty to break the law, and locals are none the wiser, as they board the three-wheelers ignoring the risk of accidents.
The scenario on inter-district highways like Sylhet-Tamabil, Sylhet-Companiganj-Bholaganj and Sylhet-Sunamganj, and the national Sylhet-Dhaka highway is most concerning.
During a recent visit to these highways, this correspondent found all kinds of three-wheelers plying the highways. Even Lagunas, which were banned through an HC order, are seen zooming across.
While talking to some auto-rickshaw drivers at Sylhet city's Tilagarh area, they said they have been driving their vehicles on the highways for years, and police seldom block their path. Police, however, disagree with their statement.
Inspector Ali Reza, in-charge of Tamabil Highway Police Outpost, said, "We regularly conduct drives, seizing auto-rickshaws, vans and other prohibited vehicles in the process. When they see our patrol vehicles, they immediately turn their backs and run away."
But many parts of these highways are under Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), and most of these vehicles are being run under those areas, he said, adding that the new traffic law is taking some time to be implemented on the roads, which is exacerbating the situation.
"When we'll slap them with huge fines under the new law, the situation will be brought under control," he added.
Nikulin Chakma, additional deputy commissioner (traffic) of SMP, said, "We also conduct drives at the areas under our jurisdiction, but we're short of staff for regular monitoring."
Md Sanaul Haque, assistant director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in Sylhet, said, "We regularly conduct mobile courts, but as we can't do the work of a magistrate, we rely on the district administration and getting magistrates' schedule to conduct drives."
Md Abul Kalam, additional district magistrate of Sylhet, said, "When BRTA asks for magistrates, we support them almost daily. But I think the matter needs to be discussed in the district administration's coordination meetings, and a solution must be found in presence of all stakeholders."
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