Staff Reporter :
The BRTA authorities have filed at least 2,249 cases and fined over Tk 16 lakh against unfit vehicles and with fake licence drivers across the country, including capital city ofDhaka the first two days.
The joined drive led by Bangladesh Roads and Transport Authority (BRTA) entered the second day on Tuesday.
The executive magistrates of the BRTA also awarded jail to at least 21 drivers in the first two days.
Over one hundred vehicles were seized by the police and other cop members across the country during this time.
The drive began on Monday to ensure the road safety.
The most of the owners of the transports refrained from plying their vehicles in the streets throughout the country, including capital, creating unbearable public sufferings, BRTA, police and local sources said. Currently, more than 21 lakh vehicles are registered with BRTA. Besides, there are 3.13 lakh different categories of unfit vehicles. Of them, at least 93,000 are in Dhaka, according to BRTA sources.
On Tuesday, at least 105 cases were filed, among at least 57 in the capital, fines of Tk 1.95 lakh was imposed and at least seven drivers were jailed for fake driving license.
On the other hand, more than 115 cases were filed, fines of Tk 2.30 lakh was imposed, two drivers were jailed and a bus was impounded on Monday.
Yesterday, BRTA’s different teams conducted drives in the city’s Khilkhet, Jatrabati, Gabtoli, Kakoli and Karwan Bazar, Badda, Bashabo areas.
On the other hand, Dhaka district administration launched the drives at Malibagh, New Market and Sayedabad areas on the day.
In the capital, Monday’s drive was carried out at least 15 points, including Gabtoli, Kakoli, Karwan Bazar and Manik Miah Avenue.
On the other hand, Dhaka district administration launched the drives at Asad Gate, Shahbagh, Azimpur and Babubazar.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) and Bangladesh Roads and Transport Authority (BRTA) conducted separate drives against unfit vehicles in Chittagong city’s, Oxigen Mor, Andarkilla, Nimtola, Bahaddarhat and City Gate areas in the last two days, local sources said.
The BRTA lodged 43 cases against unfit vehicles, fining Tk 60,000 to unfit vehicle owners and seizing five more vehicles. The CMP lodged 67 more cases against the drivers and unfit vehicles, said CMP (Traffic) sources.
During the drive, at least 57 cases were filed in Rajshahi, 46 in Mymensingh, 24 in Pabna, 34 in Comilla, 25 in Khulna, 35 in Sylhet, 7 in Rangpur, 11 in Nilphamari, local sources said.
In Bogra, at least 31 cases were filed for the violations and Tk 20,400 was realized as fines from the drivers and owners for driving without licence and failure to produce fitness certificates of their vehicles, sources said.
The drive also launched every district by police and local administrations, sources said.
On the other hand, due to the shortage of transports, thousands of commuters were seen waiting at different bus stoppages in Dhaka and other divisional cities for hours.
A Dhaka commuter, IT professional Razib Ahmed, trying to get to work by hanging precariously from the door of a bus told the New Nation that even during hartals things were not so bad because people knew in advance and could plan accordingly.
Sharmin Akter, a college student, said the government should conduct the drive in various routes phase by phase.
Shamim Ahmed, a driver of Balak Paribahan said the drive was nothing but an effort to put public transport workers out of their jobs.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the drive against unfit vehicles will be continued.
The minister said this while speaking at the opening ceremony of LP 909 model AC bus of TATA at Hotel Sonargaon in the city on Tuesday.
BRTA Chairman Nazrul Islam said that any complaints would be considered seriously to ensure the road safety. He said that mobile courts were taking action in all the 64 districts.
On October 26, road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader announced that BRTA would begin the special countrywide drive against unfit vehicles and driving without license on November 10.
