Traffic police playing mysterious role in this context

Ashraful Islam Joy

Despite the government ban, various types of three wheelers including CNG run auto-rickshaws, Nasimon and Karimon are plying randomly on the Dhaka-North Bengal highway through Hatikumrul (Sirajganj Road) intersection in Sirajganj district that posing threat to frequent accidents.

There is a complaint that, a section of unscrupulous traffic police of Hatikurmul Highway thana led by its newly appointed Officer-in-Charge are allowing to ply the illegal vehicles on the highly important and busiest highway in exchange of hush money. As a result, the incidents of various types of road accidents and losing of lives have now become a regular phenomenon there.

Though, the Hatikumrul Highway Police Station’s Officer in Charge Abdur Rauf declined to make any comment in this regard showing plea of senior officers’ prohibition, locals complained about taking illegal gratification by the traffic police and their recruited agents from the three wheelers’ drivers for permitting to ply on the highway.

Hafizur Rahman, a CNG driven auto-rickshaw driver told The Daily Sky that, “Traffic police through their recruited men realize Tk 500 to Tk 1000 per month from each three wheeler driver. In exchange of the monthly payment, each driver gains a printed sticker, which is used on the vehicle’s glass or shown to other cops or law enforcers while checking. The printed stickers are generated by a section of so-called association leaders and agents, who work belonging to the cops.”

“Thus, the traffic police realize several lakhs of taka every month and these money are shared among the police personnel ranking from constable to SP and DIG,” he added.

During a spot visit to Hatikumrul intersection area and also 400 meters away from Highway police station, this correspondent found that, CNG driven auto-rickshaws, Nasimons and Karimons along with passengers and even various types of goods were plying openly through the highway in front of traffic police. But, the traffic police don’t paying heeds in this regard, even after the government being directed by higher court imposed ban on the plying of three wheelers on highway to avert and reduce road accidents.

It is to be mentioned that, Hatikumrul intersection is a key point of the country’s connectivities as thousands of vehicles including buses, trucks and cars ply between Dhaka and 16 districts of the northern region through the highway every day. Due to plying of such illegal three wheelers on the highway, accidents occur almost regularly causing loses of lives. Besides, many people become crippled following the accidents and lead miserable life along with their family members. But, little effort of the traffic police along with some honesty and awareness of the vehicles’ drivers and pedestrians can reduce the number of accidents on the country’s roads and highways, experts opined.

It is further mentioned that, four of a family were killed in a road accident on the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway at Hatikumrul intersection on August 19. The deceased were identified as Jasim Uddin, 65, his wife Moyna Khatun, 60, their two sons Jamal Uddin, 45 and Kamal Uddin, 40. They hailed from Norsinghpur village in Baghmara upazila of Rajshahi.

On September 7, three persons including father and son were killed in a road accident on the Bangabandhu Jamuna bridge, also about 22 kilometers away from Hatikumrul intersection.

Six persons were also killed in a head on collision between Microbus and CNG driven auto-rickshaw on the western side of Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge under Kamarkhanda upazila in the Sirajganj district on September 9 last. Of the deceased, three died on the spot, two others died on the way to hospital and another succumbed to his injuries at hospital while undergoing treatment.

On October 17, a deadly accident that occurred on the Pabna-Bogura highway at Simanta Bazar area, also few kilometers away from Hatikumrul highway claimed lives of three persons. The deceased were identified as Nazrul Islam, 35, son of Abdus Sattar of Durgapur village in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district, Ashraful Islam, 23, son of Mukter Hossain of Ghoraghat village in Rangpur district and Roni, 22, son of Mohammad Ali of the same village.

Like those, there are huge precedents of accidents on the highway around Hatikumrul intersection most of which occurred due to random and reckless plying of three wheelers on it despite the ban.

Bus, truck and car drivers urged the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop plying of three wheelers on the highway to prevent frequent accidents.

While contacted over cell phone, Abdul Qadir Jilani, Additional Superintendent of Highway Police in Bogura circle told The Daily Sky that, “Regular drive continues in this regard on behalf of highway police.” He also left the call before replying to the further queries.