Banned 3-wheelers rule Rangpur highways

Unauthorised vehicles, especially locally made battery-run rickshaws, easy-bikes, pump engine-driven Nasiman and Kariman, continue to ply different highways in the Rangpur region ignoring the ban under the very nose of the authorities concerned contributing to road accidents.

Spot visits to an 80-kilometre stretch of highways from Pirganj in Rangpur to Saidpur in Nilphamari found that auto-rickshaws, battery-run auto three-wheelers, locally made three-wheelers Nasiman, Kariman, Bhatbhati, are plying the highway randomly.

A number of auto stands are found at Pirganj Bazar, Dhaperhat, Borodaroga, Sahtibari, Mithapukur, Jaigirhat, CO Bazar, Hazirhat and Taraganj beside the highway.

The three-wheelers used to run on the highway to destinations like Mithapukur, Sathibari, Pirganj, and Sadullapur in Gaibandha.

An auto driver Mejbahuddin at Modern intersection said, “We want to run the battery-run three-wheelers on short-distance routes. We drive on the highway risking our lives as we do not find any alternative sources.”

“The intercity buses and vehicles move very fast and do not give us any spaces on the highway. So we need to run the vehicle slow,” he added.

A passenger Siddiqur Rhaman said the intercity buses often refuse to take the short-distance passengers. So, he chooses to board the battery run three-wheeler as the fare is cheap compared to the bus services.

Asked about the ban on plying on the highway, another driver Iddris Ali said police harass them and often file cases. However, they manage the police and the local transport workers union sometimes to ply the vehicle for the sake of maintaining their livelihood.

Dhaka bound Agomoni Enterprise bus driver Rafiqul Islam said the three-wheeler drivers do not know traffic rules and regulations. They do not even think of their passengers’ security as they use to drive carelessly which becomes an obstacle for the fast-moving vehicles.

Most of the three-wheelers do not have proper signal lights which creates a very risky situation, especially while overtaking vehicles at night, he added.

MA Majid, general secretary of the Rangpur District Motor Workers Union, said the transport workers union went on general strike several times earlier to stop plying the three-wheeled vehicles on the highway.

Each time the local administration assured them of stopping such vehicles on highways. But they did not take any action. Three-wheelers are the reason for several road accidents and traffic congestion on the highway.

“When the road accidents occur, the heavy vehicles’ drivers are blamed. Cases are filed against them. We demanded immediate stoppage of three-wheelers on highways,” he added.

He also said there is also a ban of the high court on three-wheelers plying on the highway.

Rangpur region Highway police Assistant Superintendent of police Jahidul Islam said police have been taking measures to stop the movement of three-wheelers on highways round the year.

To avoid road accidents and congestions on the highway amid the huge rush of traffic, police check posts were set up at different points especially in accident-prone areas of the highway to avoid accidents and to ease the heavy vehicles’ fast movement, he added.