Law on the Highways

The Dhaka-Aricha highway is probably the most important stretch of road in the country. Despite the opening of the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge and consequent diversion of northwest-bound traffic away from the ferry port in Manikganj, the highway remains a critical artery in the overall anatomy of the national economy. Yet, this highway has long been the target of some of the most obnoxious disruptive activities by a whole host of hooligans, from university students to transport workers to transport owners. The opening of the Bangabandhu Bridge was expected to reduce pressure on the highway and thus lead to a reduction in barricades and blockades. While such incidences in recent months have been few, the propensity to engage in such activities among a section of people has apparently not waned.

Over the past three days, passengers travelling on the Dhaka-Aricha highway have been subjected to intolerable harassment as transport owners took to blocking the road at several points. It appears that a dispute between owners and workers, which boiled over into violence, has led to this action by the former. As usual, it is the ordinary highway users that have borne the brunt of somebody else's petty quarrel. Economic loss in such instances is hardly ever calculated, but there is no doubt that it is considerable. The strangest aspect of each blockade episode is that the disruption is allowed to go on for hours and days without any intervention from law enforcing agencies.

The situation has come to such a pass that blockades and barricades on highways are viewed as just another of those "actions" that organised labour, business or political groups can take with impunity. But this cannot be tolerated. Such blockades are plainly illegal in character and terroristic in nature. The only response to such actions should be immediate and effective police intervention. While dispute between two groups may continue in whatever form, the police must ensure that highways are clear and open to smooth movement of traffic. There is no legitimacy to highway blockades and the police must enforce the law by removing barricades, with force if necessary.

 

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