The banned three-wheelers like autrorickshaws, easybike, Nasimon and Karimon (motorised van) and Bhatbhati (motorised three wheelers) continued to ply the highways across the country, leading to deadly accident almost every day.
Though the government banned these risky vehicles, they are being operated on Dhaka-Aricha, Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Mymensingh, Dhaka-Sylhet and other highways and roads due to inaction by law enforcers.
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Unskilled drivers, slow speed and technical flaws are making these vehicles vulnerable to fatal accidents on the highways dominated by long-distance coaches, buses and goods laden trucks. As a result, many people are meeting the tragic end of their lives on the roads and highways almost every day. Reportedly, on Friday five persons were killed and three others injured in a road accident in Balkchar area on the Bogura-Rangpur Highway under Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district. The accident took place when a passenger bus of ‘Hanif Paribahan’ coming from Dhaka rammed an auto-rickshaw in the area, leaving three passengers of the auto-rickshaw dead on the spot and five others injured seriously.
Authorities concerned must take
necessary steps to stop plying
of three-wheelers on highways
In the last two decades, no fewer than 56,987 people were killed in 58,208 road accidents across Bangladesh, says a study of Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
Small vehicles defying ban ply highways and often collide with large vehicles, which leads to a staggering number of fatalities on roads and highways.
Besides, two other big reasons behind the accidents are disorderly movement of vehicles and the reckless attitude of drivers.
We have noticed that easybike, rickshaws and vans are running on the roads across the country setting up batteries and motors.
Only front wheels of these vehicles have brakes, but rear wheels have no brakes. Authorities concerned must take necessary steps to stop the plying of three-wheelers on highways and shut down factories which manufacture such vehicles immediately. Besides, the government should prioritise bringing discipline on the roads and highways. In this regard, cooperation from all stakeholders is a must.
The highest priority must be given to restoring order on roads and highways. Police administrations needs to be determined to stop plying of three-wheelers and other non-mechanised vehicles on highways and bypasses based on the government decision.
Law enforcement agencies will have to play key role and work together for successful enforcement of the government decision to save lives from the road mishaps.
