Eid-ul-Fitr approaching fast: Is it possible to ensure safety of passengers on highway?

Selim Reza, Staff Reporter, Sirajganj :

Question has been intensified that is it possible to ensure safety of homebound passengers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr keeping three wheelers particularly CNG driven auto-rickshaws, battery run-rickshaw-vans and easy-bikes on the highway?

Experts seem that, it is never possible to make the Eid journey safe and comfortable without stopping the movements of three wheelers on highways.

To ensure safety and make the Eid journey uninterrupted, the authorities concerned should stop plying of all kinds of three wheelers on highways. Otherwise, the fear of traffic gridlock and furious accidents on the highway will not be reduced, they opined.

It is mentionable that, Dhaka-North Bengal highway especially Dhaka-Bogura, Dhaka-Nagorbari-Pabna and Dhaka-Bonpara-Rajshahi are treated as highly important transit route in the country.

Of them, about 22 km path from Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge to Hatikumrul intersection play a key role to maintain the connectivity between the commuters of Dhaka and northern region. Over 27000 to 30,000 various types of vehicles ply through the route during the usual period.

But, the number increases to two to three times before and after of the Eid festivals. Due to high pressure of transports during such festivals, the proportion of traffic congestion and accidents goes to up compared to the usual period.

Like the previous years, fear over acute traffic congestions and furious accidents has been loomed centering the Eid journey as the matter of random plying of unauthorized three wheelers including CNG, auto-rickshaws, vans and even Nasimon and Karimon on the highly important highway is being neglected by the authorities concerned due to unknown reasons.

During a recent visit to the highway stretching from Jamuna Bridge western side to Hatikumrul intersection, this correspondent found that, unauthorized three wheelers were plying on the highway randomly without any interruption by the traffic police or any other respective authorities. The three wheelers plying on the main lane of the highway avoiding both side service lanes include CNG driven auto-rickshaws, battery driven rickshaws-vans and easy-bikes, cattle and vegetable laden Nasimon and Karimon.

It is wondering that, no CNG-run auto-rickshaw has license, fitness and even other necessary documents. Most of the unauthorized drivers are engaged in driving of the highly risky vehicles. Many CNG-run auto-rickshaws have been plying on the roads and highways for long with vulnerable cylinders that posing serious threat of explosions. Those vehicle owners and workers don’t pay heeds to retest their cylinders within the statutory time.

According to a government circular published in 2002, gas cylinders must undergo fitness tests every five years. But most cylinders have not been tested or retested since their conversion into CNG years ago. And even, there is no cylinder retesting centre in Sirajganj district. Though, a cylinder retesting centre has been set up at Bogura district in the northern region by TMSS, vehicles owners and workers don’t show interest to go there for retesting their CNG cylinders due to inaction and silent role of the authorities concerned. If someone shows interest, he will have to go to Dhaka or Bogura that they term as hassle.

Insiders said, apathy in taking action against such vehicles by the authorities concerned is instigating the CNG drivers and owners in non-compliance with the rules and regulations. They are plying those unauthorized vehicles on all roads and highways in and out of the Sirajganj district that posing serious risk of explosion and accidents.

At least five persons have been killed and several others injured in six road accidents under Jamuna Bridge western police station in the last few months since after August 5, 2024. The number of accidents and casualty may be increased compared to the mentioned number as all of the incidents were not registered at the thana as case. Some people died in hospitals and clinics or even some incidents remain out of police knowledge. Victims’ relatives take away the bodies from the spots or hospitals just after occurring accidents without knowledge of police, said Officer in Charge of Jamuna bridge western police station Anarul Islam.

“We have no authority to lodge any case against any vehicle for want of license or fitness. It is the matter of traffic department. We also able to lodge case over accidents and several other crimes in our jurisdiction,” he added.

On the other hand, at least 27 persons have been killed in 23 accidents in the last four months under the jurisdiction of Hatikumrul Highway thana. Most of those accidents caused by random plying of unauthorized vehicles, locals sources said.

While contacted, Officer in Charge of Hatikumrul Highway police station Abdur Rauf could not explain the proper reasons behind plying of such unauthorized vehicles on highway before completion of the four lane construction work.

Drivers and passengers said, construction of four lanes has not yet been completed fully. But, the three wheelers’ drivers use some portions of the service lanes. Sometimes, they also get up on the main lanes of the highway flouting the directives and start racing with the long distance heavy vehicles that leads to accidents.

Shahid Ullah, Superintendent of Police in Bogura Highway circle said, “We have already held more than one meeting with the concerned service providers including the senior officials of SASEC project on keeping the highway smooth for Eid travelers. SASEC officials have assured to open both the side connecting lanes from Hatikumrul intersection before 15 days of Eid-ul-Fitr so that the pressure of vehicles reduces comparatively. If the both lanes are opened before the Eid, vehicle movements will be eased and fear of traffic congestion during the Eid holidays will be removed. Besides, no three wheelers will be allowed on the highway’s main lanes before and after 15 days of Eid-ul-Fitr.”

On the other hand, confusion over opening the side connective lanes of the relevant flyovers and underpass by the SASEC authorities near Hatikumurl intersection before Eid has been created due to snail’s pace of construction works. Uncertainty looms over completion of the construction works within the short time, drivers and vehicle owners said.