S A Shofiee, Sylhet :
Despite a ban, CNG-driven auto-rickshaws continue to run on Dhaka-Sylhet highways across Sylhet Area, flouting High Court rule and putting the lives of passengers, pedestrians, and drivers at risk.
The government on August 1 last year imposed a ban on the running of slow-moving three-wheelers on highways across the country, with a view to preventing frequent accidents.
The ban came into effect in the wake of over 240 deaths in a series of road accidents nationwide before and after Eid ul-Fitr.
But after a few days, unscrupulous transport owners and workers started their regular business under the very nose of the district administration.
A portion of Sylhet-Dhaka Highway in the grip of these illegal vehicles.
During a recent visit to of the highway, this correspondent found that transport workers had also set up makeshift stands to return to their illegal transport business.
The transport workers also pick up passengers from random places, causing traffic congestion at some points of the highway.
Officer-in-Charge of Dakshin Surma police station Ataur Rahman told that they had already checked the plying of three-wheelers on highways, but had yet to do the same on the Sylhet-Dhaka Highway due to manifold problems.
He also said they recently had a discussion on finding a way to stop the plying of illegal vehicles on highways.
The OC added that they had already begun distributing leaflets to passengers to raise awareness about the adverse impact of availing the illegal transports.
“It is not possible for us to stop the plying of three-wheelers on highways without the help of the highway and Traffic police,” he added.
Assistant Director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Sylhet told that although they had a manpower shortage, they were still accompanying the executive magistrate during a drive against Nasimon and Karimon and other three-wheelers.
Despite a ban, CNG-driven auto-rickshaws continue to run on Dhaka-Sylhet highways across Sylhet Area, flouting High Court rule and putting the lives of passengers, pedestrians, and drivers at risk.
The government on August 1 last year imposed a ban on the running of slow-moving three-wheelers on highways across the country, with a view to preventing frequent accidents.
The ban came into effect in the wake of over 240 deaths in a series of road accidents nationwide before and after Eid ul-Fitr.
But after a few days, unscrupulous transport owners and workers started their regular business under the very nose of the district administration.
A portion of Sylhet-Dhaka Highway in the grip of these illegal vehicles.
During a recent visit to of the highway, this correspondent found that transport workers had also set up makeshift stands to return to their illegal transport business.
The transport workers also pick up passengers from random places, causing traffic congestion at some points of the highway.
Officer-in-Charge of Dakshin Surma police station Ataur Rahman told that they had already checked the plying of three-wheelers on highways, but had yet to do the same on the Sylhet-Dhaka Highway due to manifold problems.
He also said they recently had a discussion on finding a way to stop the plying of illegal vehicles on highways.
The OC added that they had already begun distributing leaflets to passengers to raise awareness about the adverse impact of availing the illegal transports.
“It is not possible for us to stop the plying of three-wheelers on highways without the help of the highway and Traffic police,” he added.
Assistant Director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Sylhet told that although they had a manpower shortage, they were still accompanying the executive magistrate during a drive against Nasimon and Karimon and other three-wheelers.
