M M Jasim :
Despite the High Court’s ban and the government’s strict stance, an influential syndicate with the help of police has been operating some unfit vehicles on the city streets, and even through the Diplomatic Zone.
Residents of the Diplomatic Zone alleged that, “Police don’t take any action against the owners and drivers of the unfit vehicles. Sometimes, untoward incidents occur when the drivers of unfit buses and mini-buses loose their control over the steering. Besides, wheel puncture, extreme sound pollution and other road hazards are a regular phenomenon.
On Tuesday, it is 9:00am. The city’s Diplomatic Zone was almost clear. But after sometime, an unfit mini-bus named ‘Bandhu Paribahan’ came near the Gulshan Lake Bridge and one of its wheels punctured. The driver failed to operate the bus even after two hours as the wheel’s condition as well as the mini-bus was very precarious.
Luckily, no one was injured due to the impact of the sudden puncture. The residents of Diplomatic Zone expressed their surprise how such unfit vehicles can operate through the area despite the High Court’s ban on it. They alleged that it is possible to run such vehicles only through unholy negotiations with the police.
The ‘Bandhu Paribahan’ operates from Zero Point of Gulistan to Gulshan-2 via Diplomatic Zone everyday.
A resident of the area, wishing anonymity, told The New Nation that they don’t expect that unfit vehicles would ply inside the Diplomatic Zone. It should be stopped immediately, he said.
“Some local influential persons and police permit the unfit bus owners and drivers to operate the vehicles through the Diplomatic Zone, which is totally unexpected,” he said.
A driver of Bandhu Paribahan told this correspondent that they give a certain amount of money to police and the local leaders to ply their vehicles. They also have to give money to the traffic sergeants and the constables, he said.
Deputy Commissioner of DMP (Gulshan Zone) SM Mostaque Ahmed Khan, however, denied the allegation.
