Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Thursday asked the government why it should not apply traffic rules against high-ups who are violating traffic regulations in Dhaka city.
“No one should violate the traffic rules,” an HC bench said while issuing a suo moto rule seeking government explanation in four weeks why the court should not issue order to enforce traffic rules in the capital.
The HC bench, comprising Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal, passed the order in the wake of a tendency among the government high-ups to drive on the wrong side of the roads.
Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner and DMP Joint Commissioner (Traffic) have been made respondents to the rule.
The respondents will have to submit a report before the court on November 27 on steps taken in compliance of the HC directive. The HC bench said: “It is common knowledge that some VIPs and VVIPs use the wrong side of various streets of Dhaka showing disregard to traffic laws, and thus compound the problem of traffic congestion further.”
“It is the mandate of Article 27 of the Constitution that all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of law. No one should escape the law with impunity, however highly placed the person may be.”
All citizens irrespective of their status and position in the society must abide by the traffic rules, for failing which, serious traffic tangles and accidents may take place taking a heavy toll on human life, the bench observed.
