Scrapped, no problem!
It was a praiseworthy initiative, and even could be seen as a result of the countrywide student movement for safe roads and Traffic Week.
On Monday, at least 152 battery-run three-wheelers, illegally plying the streets in Barisal, were scrapped by an order of the court.
Barisal City Corporation officials dismantled the unfit and unlicensed vehicles, impounded by police over the last one year, in Amanatganj area in presence of law enforcers.
The High Court also banned plying of mechanised and battery-run rickshaws across the country.
After dismantling the vehicles, the scrap materials were bought by some people at an auction called by the law enforcement agencies.
However, the once scrapped vehicles are ready to hit the road again ahead of Eid.
While visiting Amanatganj area yesterday, it was seen that workers of at least 20 workshops are busy assembling those. They said they will finish the work before Eid.
This correspondent found Forkan Mia, owner of a workshop, instructing his workers on how to assemble the parts.
“The scrap material for each vehicle was bought at Tk 7,000 per piece,” he said. “Afterwards, they were sold at Tk 10,000 per piece,” he added without elaborating any further.
When asked, who purchased the scrap materials, he mentioned that an influential group of people were involved.
He said they end up spending Tk 3,000 to Tk 4,000 on each vehicle at the workshop. “Our work is almost complete,” he added.
When asked about the danger these three-wheelers pose, he said confidently, “We will install new batteries so that the vehicles could run smoothly.”
This correspondent also spoke to ASM Faizur Rahman, assistant commissioner of traffic police in Barisal, regarding the issue.
At first, he said he did not know anything about it. When he was shown the documents and pictures of workers rebuilding the three-wheelers, he said, “This is completely illegal. Strict measures will be taken against them.”
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