Legal notice to ban autorickshaws on highways and flyovers

Legal notices have been sent seeking instructions to stop the movement of easybikes, battery-powered rickshaws and auto-rickshaws on major roads and flyovers across the country. This notice has been sent to the Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives, Secretary to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Inspector General of Police and Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board. has been

Supreme Court lawyer on Thursday (21 November) in the public interest. Bahauddin Al Imran sent this legal notice.

The notice highlighted the news of reports published in the media and said that the uncontrolled movement of auto and battery-powered rickshaws has increased exponentially across the country. Earlier these rickshaw pullers used to ply in Oligli, but nowadays these rickshaw pullers are creating anarchy on roads and highways and even on flyovers. The normal movement of people or other vehicles on the road is being disturbed by the negligence of these untrained drivers. Without obeying any rules and regulations, they are passing passengers from side to side of the road at random moments. Traffic police members are struggling to stop these drivers as they do not have license or valid documents.

After the change of government on August 5, the movement of these auto and battery-powered rickshaws is increasing across the country under various pretexts. Previously, these rickshaws were plying in Olligli, but now these rickshaws have started plying on the main roads and flyovers of the entire country including the capital. The number of casualties is increasing day by day. Most of its drivers are minors or elderly. For whom it becomes difficult to control a speeding vehicle properly.'

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) published a report on road accidents across the country on November 10. According to the report, 405 road accidents occurred across the country in the month of October this year. 377 people lost their lives in these accidents. Besides, 415 people were injured. Out of 405 road accidents, 9 people died in motorcar or jeep accidents, 42 people in bus or minibus accidents, 82 people in truck or covered van accidents, 12 people in pickup accidents, 2 people in microbus accidents, 110 people in motorcycle accidents, 12 people in van accidents, 1 person in tractor accidents, 14 people in easy bike accidents, 18 people in battery powered rickshaw accidents, 34 people in auto rickshaw accidents and other vehicle accidents. 79 people. In other words, a total of 66 people lost their lives in accidents involving easybikes, battery-powered rickshaws and auto-rickshaws in October alone.

Also, although hundreds of people were injured by these rickshaws, it was not possible to bring it up in the report, said the BRTA authorities. Last November 19, Jahangirnagar University (JUB) student Afsana Karim Rachi was killed by a battery-operated rickshaw. At the same time, these rickshaws, which have been thrown away by other transports or made with inappropriate equipment and old batteries, have become a big risk for the safety of people.

The notice also states that batteries used in autorickshaws or easybikes are charge dependent. The battery has to be charged several times a day. Thousands of garages have been built illegally to charge batteries. Electricity is being wasted while charging batteries on these illegal lines. As a result, the government is struggling to provide uninterrupted power supply across the country at present.

Therefore, within 3 working days of receiving the notice, the notice takers have been requested to take necessary measures to stop the movement of easybikes, battery-powered rickshaws and auto-rickshaws on the main roads-flyovers across the country. Otherwise, a writ petition will be filed in the country's high court in this regard, the notice has also mentioned.

FH/JH