Staff Reporter:

All roads in Sirajganj town are now occupied by the illegal battery-powered autorickshaws and easybikes on the top of nose of the authorities concerned. Due to reckless driving of such auto-rickshaws, commuters are almost facing traffic gridlock at different points in the town during the holy Ramadan. But, there is no one to see the matter sincerely, many civil society members complained.

These reckless vehicles have been entered into the lanes of remote villages overtaking the main roads and streets of the upazila headquarters. The number of these vehicles is increasing day by day due to lack of any kind of interruption. This is causing inconvenience to the common people due to traffic jams. Due to reckless speeding without paying attention to any rules and regulations, various accidents are constantly increasing. Especially since inexperienced people are involved in the profession of driving auto-rickshaws, while many drivers are minors. As a result, various types of accidents are increasing day by day in the town. The town dwellers urged the authorities concerned to take effective measures as soon as possible to get rid from this inconvenience and frequent accidents. They demanded restoration of law and order on the town roads.

During visiting different spots in the town, this correspondent found that auto-rickshaws were plying recklessly across the town. There is a competition to see who will go first. This competition is especially seen among underage drivers. In addition, traffic jams are being created due to the random parking of battery-powered rickshaws on the roadsides. Hydraulic horns and LED lights have been installed on these rickshaws. This has resulted in noise pollution as well as accidents are increasing at night due to use of substandard LED lights.

Abdul Quader, a businessman of Borobaza’ar area in the town said that, “It is now impossible to travel throughout the town comfortably due to nuisance of auto-rickshaws.  Due to their (drivers) competitive movements, auto-rickshaws almost get on the pedestrians’ bodies. Sometimes, injuries also occur. Currently, the number of auto-rickshaws on the road is much higher than the number of passengers. Again, extortion is going on in many places around these vehicles. A section of association leaders and their agents are engaged in extortion from the vehicles openly. The money is shared among several organs or bodies of the authorities concerned for keeping silence, insiders claimed.

Suraya Islam, a housewife of the Boropool area in the town said, “We face a lot of trouble while walking through the road. Many times the uncontrolled auto-rickshaws hit our bodies. Our Sari, veil and other dresses get torn often by touching with auto-rickshaws’ hoods or handles.”

Pedestrian Ruhul Amin said, “Due to these battery-powered auto-rickshaws, ordinary people, including children and elderly men, are now afraid to walk on the road. People are facing accidents almost every day.”

Bulbul Hossain, a school teacher of the Stadium Road area in the town, said, “From dawn to dusk, battery-powered rickshaws are roaming the busiest roads in the town. Accidents are constantly happening because of those uncontrolled driving. The administration should take note of this and take action. Illegal battery-powered easy bikes and rickshaws have now become a thorn in the people’s throats.”

Seeking anonymity, a government officer said, “The battery run auto-rickshaws have been plying on the town’s roads for long without legality. They have no license and even they don’t follow any rules and regulations. However, none of the concerned authorities pay heeds in this regard.”

He however said, there is no specific statistics of the battery run auto-rickshaws to the concerned authorities. Those innumerable auto-rickshaws consume huge quantities of electricity every day. Most of the batteries of the auto-rickshaws and easy-bikes are recharged from different illegal garages, which have no legal electricity connection. As a result, government is incurring huge losses due to use of power in illegal manner. Not only that, it is causing of power shortage and massive power outage.

While contacted, no one of the authorities concerned agree to make any comment in this regard. On condition of anonymity, a police officer said, “We have lost our working ability after August 5. Police still feel insecurity, while performing duties. If we try to take any legal action against any law violator (any of fields), we face various types of threats including ghostly agitations. This is why, police remain away from any kind of legal action to avert chaos.”