• ---

  ---

  Thousands of three wheelers plying on side lanes, even main lanes of highways growing accident risk

• There is no specific policy or instruction, police say
  

  ---

  ---

Rehennuma Tarannum Rifat

Who will clarify that, these are legal or illegal? The highway police themselves do not know whether they will consider three-wheeled vehicles such as battery-powered rickshaws, vans and even Bhutbhuti plying on the four-lane-highway’s side lanes as legal or illegal.

With the development of modern technologies, confusion has created over the legality of battery-run-rickshaws and vans. Due to lack of specific instructions, thousands of unlicensed three wheelers like battery-powered-rickshaws, vans and even Nasimon, Karimon and Bhutbhuti are now randomly using the side-lanes of four-lane-highways across the country that leads frequent small and large shaped accidents almost regularly. Many people are losing their lives.

Sometimes, these are using main lanes of the highway to cross several distances. Consequently, plying of these unlicensed vehicles on the highways’ side lanes and even main lanes grows new concern among the commuters and drivers of long distance vehicles.

Like several parts of the country, thousands of unauthorized three wheelers including both the CNG and battery driven auto-rickshaws, vans and even Bhutbhuit have been playing on the side lanes of four-lane-highways in Sirajganj and Bogura district with the indirect consent of highway police as there is no specific directives from the government over such types of vehicles. Taking the advantage of law enforcers’ inaction, drivers of three wheelers almost climb on the main lanes of highways at different places causing fatal accidents.

On the other hand, some dishonest traffic police, who basically perform on highway, are allegedly taking illegal advantages from such vehicles showing various lame excuses. Many are becoming multimillionaires using this opportunities, sources said.

Very strong allegations over collecting tolls from such as vehicles taking the advantage of no-rule or policy have been intensified against Md Ismail Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station in Sirajganj.

Five policemen from the police station were withdrawn to the Bogura Circle Office before Eid-ul-Azha on similar charges. However, no action has yet been taken against Ismail, who is considered the mastermind behind all these illegal activities, sources said.

According to the allegation, Ismail Hossain in collaboration with his forces including SI Arab Ali have been realizing toll from such vehicles for long assuring to give them opportunity to use the highway’s lanes. In exchange, he or his recruited man realizes Tk 50 from each battery run rickshaw or van daily, when it appears on highway’s any of the lanes. Besides, the highway police are allegedly engaged in realizing toll from vegetable laden trucks at night.

More surprising information is that, there are over 40,000 CNG driven auto-rickshaws in nine upazilas of Sirajganj district. Of them, about 35000 have no license, while some 5000 are plying on different roads and highways in the district with date expired license due to lack of action by the authorities concerned. It is reported that, about 50 percent of the total CNGs use several portions of the four-lane-highway daily to transport passengers or other goods for different destinations. Relevant drivers and workers association leaders realize Tk 500 from each of the unlicensed CNG (autorickshaw) and Tk 300 from each of the licensed CNG every month by providing printed stickers considered as authorized token. Thus, the association leaders collect on an average Tk 1.90 crore every month. There are allegations that, about 30 percent (share) of the money collected from CNG driven auto-rickshaws goes to the pockets of some officials at the DC office and BRTA office, while 50 percent goes to the pocket of traffic and different thana police in the district. Although previously, leaders and activists controlled by the Awami League used to run the association and raise and distribute the toll-money, it is known that after BNP came to power, that control has now passed into the hands of BNP leaders and activists.

Amirul Islam, Officer in Charge of Jamuna Bridge Western thana said, Now the question arises that, “Should we consider three-wheeled vehicles, especially battery-powered vehicles, plying in the side lanes of a four-lane highway as legal or illegal? We have not yet received any specific instructions regarding the plying of such vehicles on the highway.”

He further said that, earlier there were no four lanes. Moreover, there were no battery-powered so much vehicles. So there was no need for laws or instructions then. But now, new vehicles are coming on the roads regularly, new multi-lane roads and highways are being built every year. In that case, new laws or policies or instructions are definitely needed for our act.”

Abu Torab Md. Shamsur Rahman, Superintendent of Police at Highway Police in Bogura circle said, “Actually, we do not have any specific instructions to say whether these are legal or illegal to operate on the highway. However, we are also concerned about the rate at which such unregistered three-wheeled risky vehicles are constantly increasing and starting to operate on the highway. However, in the public interest, we are allowing these vehicles to use the side lanes of the highway for the transport of passengers and goods. However, a specific instruction or policy regarding such unlicensed vehicles is urgently needed.”

Abu Naim, Assistant Director of Sirajganj BRTA office expressed similar view saying that, “We just provide registration to engine run vehicles. So, we have no instruction about battery run vehicles.”