Ashraful Islam Joy:
Though, it was time to learning for them, they however, have taken responsibility to teach others as the concerned persons, who were the responsible for this work, failed to do it perfectly.
Being students, they are playing role as teachers of the society. They have almost become successful to teach the bikers how to comply with the traffic rules, and what are the negative and positive impacts of wearing helmet during riding.
At present, about 80 percent of the bikers are using helmet in the town, but the rate was around 30 percent, when the traffic police ruled on roads earlier.
The Daily Sky earlier carried out several news-reports emphasizing importance of helmet use just after imposing of a directive by the immediate past government to implement ‘no helmet, no fuel’ policy. But, it was noticed that, the concerned traffic department could not implement the directive cent per cent on excuse of several causes and limitations. But surprisingly the students, who get down on the streets under the banner of Baisamya Birodhi Chhatra Andolon, are found handling the bikers with firm hands and forcing them to use helmet. Non-compliance with their terms and conditions, the bikers are forced to face several types of punishment in front of public including pedestrians and even local curious people.
In this circumstance, the use of helmet has been increased in the town compared to the previous period as well as the sale of helmet at different outlets has increased comparatively.
Earlier on May 16, The Daily Sky published a report titled “‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ and on June 24, the newspaper run another report titled “Who cares traffic rule? Bikers, pump owners or police?”with the view to raise awareness among all the concern persons to inspire the bikers in using helmet. But, no respective response was noticed in this regard due to mysterious silence from the traffic division.
Does not matter so what, if no one of the concerned person pays heed in this regard! The students came down on the streets in absence of traffic police and lent their helping hands to control traffic on the roads. They taught the bikers about benefits of using helmet.
In the first stage, they warn the bikers to use helmet and comply with the traffic rules.
In next time, they go on tougher action for noncompliance of their instructions.
If any biker violets their directive, he or she must face hardship. The biker is compelled to stand at the place for about half an hour or observe responsibility like traffic police with other students for about the same time. After suffering the punishment, the biker gets release from the spot, otherwise not.
In fear of such punishment in front of public, many bikers have already forced to buy and use helmet. Some bikers, who have no helmet, avoid the roads, where the students take position.
Arabi Sultana, a student of Sirajganj Government College and BNCC cadet told The Daily Sky that, “Earlier, bikers did not use helmet due to lack of proper surveillance by the traffic police. But now, many bikers have started using helmet after our request as well as pressure. If the trend continues, many bikers will be able to protect their lives from deadly accidents. We want no life is lost in future from accident due to lack of helmet.”
Farukh Hossain, Owner of Smart Biker Shop told The Daily Sky that, “The sale of helmet has increased compared to previous time due to student movement. I think, traffic department should take learning from the students that how the bikers are forced to use helmet.”
“Use of helmet can save the life. It is not for other interest, only for biker’s own interest,” he added.