Private Yet Not Private
HC for action against errant 3-wheelers
The High Court (HC) yesterday asked the government to explain in three weeks why it should not be directed to take action against “private” CNG-run three-wheelers illegally operating on a commercial basis in and around the capital.
Issuing a suo moto rule, the HC asked the concerned authorities to explain why they should not be directed to cancel their registrations.
The court also asked the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to explain why he should not be directed to run a mobile court to identify such anomalies and enforce the relevant laws.
The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md Habibul Gani came up with the rule following a report published in The Daily Star on May 13, titled “Private yet up for hiring”.
According to the report, a large number of privately-owned auto rickshaws are plying the streets as vehicles for hire, ignoring their registration rules.
In spite of “private” inscribed on the grey three-wheelers, they wait at bus stops and major intersections looking for passengers.
However, the government did not allow any new registration of commercially-run auto rickshaws since 2004, considering the heavy traffic in the capital, the report stated, quoting Badruddouza, additional secretary of the communications ministry.
The communications secretary, chairman of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), DMP commissioner and deputy commissioner (DC) of Dhaka were made respondents to the rule.
Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder read out The Daily Star report before the HC bench.
The court also directed the BRTA chairman to submit before the court, by June 5, a list containing registration numbers of auto rickshaws registered from 2004 till date under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1993.
Meanwhile, police claimed to have strengthened their drive against private CNG three-wheelers in the capital.
“I have given directions to take legal actions against private auto rickshaws running commercially” said Alamgir Kabir, DC of DMP (south), yesterday.
Police filed 267 cases against auto rickshaws from the south zone of DMP on Sunday, while around 200 cases are being filed against CNG-run three wheelers daily, on average, he informed.
-With The Daily Star input
