Sirajganj bikers become reckless defying directives

Selim Reza from Sirajganj :

Though, the government imposed a directive to enforce ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ policy strongly across the country, negligence of the authorities concerned is keeping the Sirajganj bikers away from using of helmet showing thumbs to the directive. On the other hand, poor implementation of the directive is encouraging bikers in reckless driving without safety mate, using hydraulic horns, random parking at here and there etc. As a result, frustration looms among the conscious people of the area.
Earlier on May 16, the police headquarters directed all field-level police officers to implement the “No Helmet, No Fuel” policy to prevent death and injury from frequent road accidents.
But, it’s a painful matter that, the directive is being flouted tremendously by the bikers, pump owners and even traffic police due to unknown reasons.
Seeking anonymity, a traffic constable told The New Nation that, “We face trouble to enforce the directive as most of the pump owners are influential. On the other hand, most of the bikers introduce themselves as leader and member of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) or Jubo League or even Awami League, while they are caught by police for non-wearing of helmet or any other fault. Sometime, phone calls are made by the top officials or top political leaders or journalists in favour of them requesting to spare them. In this situation, we have become bashful to implement the rule.”
Rickshaw pullers and local commuters complained that, traffic police don’t take any legal action against the bikers even after violation of rules. Three to four persons get on a bike together without helmet most of the time and cross the road in presence of the traffic police. But, they act like they did not see anything. Jannat Ara Henry, MP from Sirajganj-2 constituency told The New Nation that, “Use of helmet may ensure safety of bikers. The policy of ‘No Helmet, No Fuel’ is not a pressure for anyone, but also a step of ensuring safety for the bikers in which no more mother loses her son or no more wife loses her husband or near and dear ones due to bike accident. So, all should comply with the rules.” “I also request to all of my fans, followers and even my political accomplices to use helmet during bike riding for own safety. Don’t misuse political clout with the intent to avoid helmet. Because it’s only for you and your safety, not for others,” she added.
Abu Bakker, a helmet trader in the town said, “As the traffic department sometime takes tougher stance against non-use of helmet, the sale of helmet increases. But, most of the bikers collect substandard helmet with a cheaper rate that don’t have capacity for providing protection. Consequently, the safety measure is flouted.”
Md. Jafar Ullah, Traffic Inspector (TI for Admin and Prosecution) in Sirajganj told The New Nation that, “It’s a shocking matter that even after filing 1214 cases against helmetless bikers out of total around 3000 bikers in the last two and half month, awareness has not yet been grown among them in this regard. Most of the youths and even teenagers ride bike without helmet. Sometime, three to four persons ride on a bike that highly risky. I thing, it is not possible to make the people aware by applying laws. People should be aware about their safety by own selves. This is why social awareness is a must here. Otherwise, nothing is possible.”
Beside the implementation of “No Helmet, No Fuel” policy, TI Jafar Ullah also expressed a theme for the young and next generation with a new slogan, “Say no to three persons on a bike together and save the lives”.