Syed Shemul Parvez :
There is no proper dumping zone to keep the seized vehicles in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) stations in consequence whereof many valuables cars, trucks, buses and others are being damaged.
As a result, numerous seized vehicles are lying in front of different police stations of Dhaka city and in some areas these vehicles are also kept on city roads which disrupts the movement of pedestrians as well as causing severe traffic congestion daily.
According to sources, both Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority do not have any specific or permanent dumping stations in the capital.
There are 50 police stations in DMP where a good number of vehicles are found in every police station.
When tried to know the actual number of vehicles, the police couldn’t say properly.
Concerned parties, however, said that discussions are underway with the city corporation to get a specific place for dumping.
These vehicles become unusable later for careless maintenance and many expensive parts are being also stolen.
Finally the state is being deprived of huge revenue as these seized vehicles have been lying on the roads for long time disrupting the movement.
Besides, not being fit to auction these vehicles get ruined.
DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said, specific places are being searched for the dumping zone. We have already talked to the City Corporation about this.
They said they would contact RAJUK for space in the Purbachal area.
“If a gym is found there, we will remove the vehicles from the front of the police stations and them there,” he said.
On the other hand, Transport Expert Professor Shamsul Haque said, just finding a place will not solve the problem. He also urged that a separate institution should be set up for auction and to maintain these vehicles in time.
The expert also advised to fine the vehicle owners without confiscating it.
Lack of a permanent dumping ground in Dhaka is forcing the authorities to let go vehicles without fitness and other valid documents, allowing them to run freely on roads in the capital. ‘We do not have our own and permanent dump station to keep the vehicles we seize,’ said DMP Additional Commissioner (traffic) Mosleh Uddin Ahmed.
‘We often let them go only filing cases as we do not have spaces to dump them,’ he said, informing that the only space they had for dumping the errant vehicles was under Kanchpur Bridge.
