Life at risk for bread
A large number of people in the district are engaged in earning their bread by hauling goods in wagons drawn by tractors.
Mohor Ali, 30, a tractor driver of Bhadai village in Aditmari upazila, said his wagon has the capacity to carry up to 12 maunds (one maund equals 40 kg) of goods, but he transports up to 40 maunds per trip. “I know we risk our lives when driving overloaded tractors, but we have to do it defying the risk,” he added.
Helper Surat Ali, 45, said he feels afraid while carrying big logs. “We tie the logs with rope, but it is still risky,” he said, adding that they earn up to Tk 500 per day.
“Many people in the district are engaged in transporting goods by tractors every day,” said driver Samiul Islam, 35, of Barabari village in Sadar upazila. “We take the risky job to earn our livelihood,” he added.
Sarwar Patwary, 48, of Bhadai village, said movement of overloaded tractors on the road may cause an accident anytime. “We feel afraid when we see the overloaded tractors on the road,” he added.
Traffic Sergeant Al-Farid told this correspondent that they never allow the tractors to move on the roads in the town and on the highway. “Maybe tractor drivers transport goods in the town dodging our vigilance,” he said, adding that many tractors were seized on the highway in the last few months.
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