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Source: ESPN
Off-limit slow-moving and unfit vehicles from highways
SUPREME Court’s High Court Division in a verdict on Wednesday gave fresh directives to the government to make the highways safe for travellers by making them off-limits for unfit vehicles as well as locally improvised slow moving unauthorized three-wheelers called Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti.
As per media reports, the fresh directives were given as the HC directives issued earlier fell on the deaf ears of the Administration. The HC Bench directed the Home Secretary to issue a circular asking the District Administration Authorities to enforce the prohibition on unauthorized vehicles’ movement on the highways. The Bench also directed the police to take action against drivers and owners if they ran Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti on the highways. The concerned police officials were directed to ensure that no Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti plied on the highways, particularly in Khulna, Bagerhat, Jessore, Satkhira, Narail, Magura, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Kushtia Districts.
It should be mentioned that on September 15, 2014, the HC had directed the Deputy Commissioners and SPs of Khulna, Barisal, Madaripur, Faridpur and Rajbari to make the highways in their respective areas off-limits for Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti. The HC gave the verdict responding to a public interest litigation writ petition.
It should also be noted that prior to this writ petition, the National Road Safety Council took the decision to put off Nosimon, Korimon, and Votvoti from the highways on September 29, 2010. But that decision was never implemented by putting a ban on those locally improvised vehicles.
According to a report compiled by Passengers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh on the basis of newspaper reports, at least 6,055 people were killed and 15,914 others were injured in 4,312 recorded road accidents across the country in 2016.
The report shows that 56 percent of the traffic accidents took place on the highways, 23 percent in urban areas and 21 percent in the countryside where these locally improvised vehicles were involved. It also shows that three lakh unfit vehicles and 10 lakh illegal Nosimon, Korimon, Votvoti and Easy-bikes are now operating in the country and such vehicles were mainly involved in the accidents on the highways.
The earlier HC verdict was not implemented and that non-compliance caused many deaths. Showing no respect to the HC directives is not a good indication of a disciplined local administration system in place.
We know how reluctant our Supreme Court is to issue directions asking the government what it must do. What we find is, everywhere the government’s incompetence is glaring. What is more disappointing is that the government is incapable in improving its performance.
The government’s failure to improve traffic system of the capital city should put the government to shame. But yet, the government is telling us what the bureaucrats teach them to utter. The story is -development of Bangladesh is role model for the world. The government should not allow itself to be deceived and look ridiculous.
As per media reports, the fresh directives were given as the HC directives issued earlier fell on the deaf ears of the Administration. The HC Bench directed the Home Secretary to issue a circular asking the District Administration Authorities to enforce the prohibition on unauthorized vehicles’ movement on the highways. The Bench also directed the police to take action against drivers and owners if they ran Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti on the highways. The concerned police officials were directed to ensure that no Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti plied on the highways, particularly in Khulna, Bagerhat, Jessore, Satkhira, Narail, Magura, Jhenaidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur and Kushtia Districts.
It should be mentioned that on September 15, 2014, the HC had directed the Deputy Commissioners and SPs of Khulna, Barisal, Madaripur, Faridpur and Rajbari to make the highways in their respective areas off-limits for Nosimon, Korimon and Votvoti. The HC gave the verdict responding to a public interest litigation writ petition.
It should also be noted that prior to this writ petition, the National Road Safety Council took the decision to put off Nosimon, Korimon, and Votvoti from the highways on September 29, 2010. But that decision was never implemented by putting a ban on those locally improvised vehicles.
According to a report compiled by Passengers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh on the basis of newspaper reports, at least 6,055 people were killed and 15,914 others were injured in 4,312 recorded road accidents across the country in 2016.
The report shows that 56 percent of the traffic accidents took place on the highways, 23 percent in urban areas and 21 percent in the countryside where these locally improvised vehicles were involved. It also shows that three lakh unfit vehicles and 10 lakh illegal Nosimon, Korimon, Votvoti and Easy-bikes are now operating in the country and such vehicles were mainly involved in the accidents on the highways.
The earlier HC verdict was not implemented and that non-compliance caused many deaths. Showing no respect to the HC directives is not a good indication of a disciplined local administration system in place.
We know how reluctant our Supreme Court is to issue directions asking the government what it must do. What we find is, everywhere the government’s incompetence is glaring. What is more disappointing is that the government is incapable in improving its performance.
The government’s failure to improve traffic system of the capital city should put the government to shame. But yet, the government is telling us what the bureaucrats teach them to utter. The story is -development of Bangladesh is role model for the world. The government should not allow itself to be deceived and look ridiculous.
