Won't allow unfit vehicles on roads: IGP

Police will not allow any unfit vehicles on the streets ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary said yesterday.

“Such vehicles will be impounded and action will be taken against drivers without valid licences,” he said during a press conference at police headquarters in the capital.

Such action is necessary to relieve passenger sufferings as illegal and unfit vehicles running on long routs often break down and cause severe congestions on the roads.

Additionally, police will also take necessary measures to prevent incidents of launce capsize caused by overloading, he said. 

For a smoother vehicular movement on roads, police have been instructed not to intercept vehicles carrying sacrificial animals while the traders have been urged to mention the names of their destination markets in banners or signs attached to the vehicles.

The markets, selling sacrificial animals, will be provided with machines to detect fake bank notes and police will remain vigilant to prevent smuggling of animal raw hides, the IGP said. 

Police chiefs in all districts have been put on alert to avert any disorderly situation during Eid congregations in their respective districts.

Regarding their preparations for National Mourning Day programmes on August 15, the IGP said there is no impending threat, but police have taken all precautionary measures anyway.

Last year, a suicide bomber was killed in an operation by law enforcers at a hotel on Panthapath near Bangabandhu Memorial on Road 32 in Dhanmondi. The militant had holed up in the hotel to launch an attack on the people gathered at the memorial to pay homage to Bangabandhu on the National Mourning Day, according to police.

IGP Javed said the areas surrounding the memorial will be under the vigilance of law enforcers this year as well.

Responding to a query about the current status of repatriating Bangabandhu's killers who fled the country, he said one of the fugitives is in Canada and another is in the US. The others, however, are constantly changing locations.

Interpol has been requested to help Bangladesh repatriate the killers of Bangabandhu, he added.