Sirajganj faces spike in CNG recklessness

Selim Reza, Sirajganj:

Drivers and owners of several thousand unauthorized CNG-driven auto-rickshaws have become reckless in nine upazilas of Sirajganj district due to lax-vigilance of the authority concerned.

They are roaming from one place to another of the roads and highways along with unauthorized and unfit CNG-auto rickshaws right under the noses of the law aand enforcing agency and administration. As a result, plying of heavy transports is being hampered on highways as well as accidents are occurring frequently at different places that claiming many lives. Many are getting crippled due to fatal accidents and bearing the brunt. But, traffic police can’t control them due to unknown reasons. Police are playing role as helpless in this regard.

Even, police in some cases are becoming victims of attack by the illegal three whiler CNG drivers or owners, while they are moving to apply traffic rules on the roads and highways in the district.

As per example, an on duty traffic constable of Hatikumrul Highway police station named Ulal Uddin came under attack of some unruly CNG-driven auto-rickshaws’ drivers at Hatikumrul intersection on Sunday last, while he and his other colleagues were discharging duty there. Ulal was the victim of attack as he took part in the drive against illegal CNG auto-rickshaws and tried to ensure legal action against the law violators. Abdur Rauf, Officer in Charge of Hatikumrul Highway thana told the new nation correspondent selim reza that, “Traffic police had been working on the highway to ensure smooth journey of Eid holiday makers, who were returning to their working places after celebrating Eid festival with their near and dear ones. But, unauthorized CNG drivers came to the highways despite the ban that creates chaos on the highway and hampers smooth movement of authorized vehicles.

Due to protest in such illicit deeds, the CNG drivers and workers engaged in scuffle with the cops and at one stage, they attacked the police constable leaving him injured.

The injured police constable was given preliminary aid. A case was also lodged in the respective police station in this connection.

Relevant sources said, there are over 40,000 CNG-driven auto-rickshaws, which are plying randomly on different roads and highways in nine upazilas of the district.

According to the sources of BRTA’s Assistant Director Office in Sirajganj, there are 4010 CNG-driven auto-rickshaws in the district, which took license once upon a time in the last 16 years. Most of these CNGs’ licenses have already been expired and many of them have not been renewed.

However, the BRTA Sirajganj office in a written statement secured by this correspondent through RTI revealed that, they have been conducted some 588 drives in the mentioned five years (2019-2023) against illegal and unfit vehicles and filed 1020 cases. They also realized some money as fine from some unauthorized vehicles during the periods.