Innovative misuse of agri equipment

Shallow engine-run three wheelers with passengers and cattle on board ply the Dinajpur roads, posing a risk of accidents. This photo was taken at Birol upazila of the district a few days ago.Photo: STAR

Power tillers meant for agricultural work are now widely used for carrying goods and passengers while diesel-run shallow engine, a device for irrigating arable lands, are being used to run locally made improvised three wheelers.
The three wheelers, known as Bhatbhati, Nasimon and Karimon, are run in violation of Bangladesh Motor Vehicles Act as they are totally unfit for plying on highways, said Md Abdul Kuddus, additional director (on deputation) of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
Often untrained drivers, including underage ones, drive these vehicles carrying goods and passengers on roads in different northern districts.
As per instructions from the home ministry, power tillers cannot be used for commercial transportation as they are registered as instruments to be used for agricultural purposes, police said.
According to the instructions, the tillers can be used to carry rice husk and wheat chaff in rural areas but its movement on highways and regional roads is prohibited.
Other than disturbing traffic, the misuse of power tiller and shallow engine poses risk for passengers as trolleys attached to the tillers are often overloaded with different materials including woods, stone, bricks and sand.
But there is no specific law to check the use of power tillers on highways and regional roads for commercial purpose, said Md Ataur Rahman, traffic inspector of Dinajpur.
When contacted, Dinajpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Moinul Islam said he directed the departmental officials to check the unauthorised use of power tillers and shallow engine-run three wheelers for commercial purpose.
"At least 51 drivers of shallow engine-run three wheelers were sued in last two days for driving them illegally. No person will be allowed to drive the vehicles for carrying passengers or other commercial purposes," the SP said on Monday last.
Md Abdu Taher Sheikh, convener of Joypurhat unit of Nirapad Sarak Chai, alleged that illegal movement of the risky vehicles has continued across the district as police receive bribe from the drivers.
He demanded strict measures against illegal vehicles.
Meanwhile, road communication with other districts from Dinajpur remained disrupted for at least three hours yesterday as the tractor trolley drivers blocked highway.
Locals said, about 100 people of Chowmuhani village in Phulbari upazila yesterday morning intercepted two tractor trolleys protesting their use in carrying sand and bricks which caused several accidents.
At this, the tractor trolley drivers blocked the Dinajpur-Phulbari highway putting their tractors and trolleys on the road in Chowmuhani area.
Just a week ago, a schoolboy was killed as a tractor trolley hit him in the area, locals alleged.