Woman jailed, 255 jaywalkers fined

On the second day of the drive by Dhaka Metropolitan Polics (DMP) to encourage people to use footbridge while crossing the roads, it was seen much people are using the footbridges and underpasses and number of violators have been reduced.

A woman was jailed and 255 jaywalkers were fined Tk 13,915 by the mobile courts for crossing Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue without using foot-over bridges and underpass on the second day of seven day drive. It was Tk 24,000 and the number was 331 on the first day. None were sent to jail.

Sorowar Alam, executive magistrates of DMP said they gave one month imprisonment to Tania, 22 for biting a police constable while she was bringing her to the mobile court for not using foot over bridges.

Magistrates Md Abdul Kuddus and Sorowar fined the jaywalkers from Tk 20 to Tk 200 for not using foot over bridges and underpass while cross the Kazi Nazrul Ilam Avenue stretching from Farmgate to Sonargaon crossing.

Kuddus said the trend of violating the rules are changing gradually and they are hopping it will change more.

He also said they will conduct extensive drive in the city later and they will also conduct huge campaign for this.

Earlier, the DMP started the drive on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue yesterday under a pilot project, following a three-day awareness campaign.

Yesterday, several mobile courts punished 331 people who violated the traffic rules on the street.

Two mobile courts yesterday realised around Tk 24,000 from the jaywalkers.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Saturday announced that it would conduct a weeklong drive at the stretch of the avenue between Hotel Ruposhi Bangla and Farmgate Police Box.

Though the ongoing drive against jaywalkers on the capital's Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue has encouraged many pedestrians to use footbridges, they complained that the footbridges and walkways should have been in better condition.

They blamed lack of proper maintenance and cleanliness work of footbridges and underpass in the area that left the bridges and footpaths under poor condition.

There are six footbridges and an underpass at the stretch between Farmgate Police Box and Hotel Ruposhi Bangla crossing, where the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, through two mobile courts, have been conducting a weeklong drive to check jaywalkers since Tuesday.

The footbridge next to Ananda Cinema Hall was blocked by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) on July 18 after a physical inspection of the structure by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

The footbridge at Farmgate remains occupied by hawkers and beggers round the year and it also remains unclean due to lack of proper cleaning work, said pedestrians. 

The sidewalks near the footbridge at Farmgate intersection have been occupied illegally by hawkers for years. Due to this illegal occupation of footpaths, many opt for crossing the road on foot, said pedestrians at the area.

Abu Naser Khan, chairman of Save the Environment Movement said they are appreciating the drive but authorities concerned should ensure all the facilities first to the pedestrian for their smooth movement.

Without ensuring the facilities like keeping footpaths free from illegal occupations, the drive against jaywalkers is not acceptable, he said.

Tomas Babul Mondul, car driver of a private company who use the footbridges at Farmgate area regular basis said police and authority concerned should ensure facilities first then they should go for the drive.

"When I cross a footbridge of Firmgate, I find most of the places remain occupied by hawkers that put barrier of my walking," he said.

Though Police claimed that they take drive against hawkers but reality is that hawkers run business taking the help of police, he said.

There are several illegal hawker establishments in the area while cars are frequently parked on footpaths which block smooth walking, said Shorafat Ahmed, a private job holder at Farmgate area.  

"It is really a good initiative but authority should take proper step to repair the footbridges and conducting regular cleaning drive," said Aminul Islam, a trader of Karwan Bazar who was crossing the underpass at Karwan Bazar keeping his hand with handkerchief in his mouth to avoid dust.

An official of DNCC said they have already started renovation work at footbridge near The Daily Star office which will be completed by the next one week but the footbridge near Anondo Hall will have to be demolished due to its risky condition.