THE transport owners and workers federations have again applied the old technique to make hostage the passengers when courts and law enforcement agencies started taking legal action against them for their foul play. Recently, the High Court ordered luxury coach operator Green Line to compensate Tk 50 lakh to car driver Russel, who lost his leg in an accident. Besides, owner of a city route operator Suprovat was ordered to give Tk 10 lakh to a private varsity student Abrar Ahmed Chowdhury, who was killed being run over by a bus.
What’s most significant is that, the Green Line Paribahan authorities made aggressive remarks before the news media after the HC had issued the order to compensate the victim. They paid only Tk 5 lakh to victim and promised to give the rest 45 lakh within one month. The Police Administration along with mobile courts has also launched a massive drive to bring discipline in the disorderly transport sector. The court cancelled route permits of Suprovat Paribahan and Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan.
Media reported that, the transport owners had reduced the number of buses and mini-buses on different city routes on Wednesday to create an artificial crisis. Thousands of passengers faced severe problem due to shortage of transports and have to wait in the long queues getting no alternative transports. We often see that, the transport owners and workers whenever face any legal action for their illegal activities; they don’t waste even a single moment to make hostage the people to get rid of the problem. It’s an old practice.
In particular; the unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles and mismanagement on the roads have turned the roads and highways streets into deathtraps. On the other hand, a section of BRTA officials are allegedly responsible for granting fake vehicle registration, drivers’ license, fitness certificate and route permit which are also contributing to the problem. We see that, this time the transport owners are trying to show arrogance against the court orders. They fear this sort of court order could be a tradition in the future, and they will have to pay compensate for accidents.
That means, they fear the implementation of law. To save them from the legal punishment, we think, they will be more aggressive in the future.
