Unauthorised vehicles significantly increase road accidents in Rajshahi

Plying of unfit and unauthorised vehicles on the roads of Rajshahi city and outside leads to a concerning rise in road accidents and the consequential fatalities and injuries.

The number of unauthorised vehicles plying the district's streets, including Votvoti, Nasimon, Korimon, and battery- powered rickshaws, is on the rise.

These vehicles which are poorly maintained, lack essential safety features, and are mostly operated by unskilled or unlicensed drivers have potential for causing accidents, even deadly accidents, any moment taking human lives.

A number of people have already lost lives meeting accidents caused by these vehicles and many have also become maimed. City residents said that due to lack of effective monitoring by the authorities, these unregistered vehicles cannot be brought under control, which has become a grave concern.

Due to these vehicles, traffic congestion has also become a common phenomenon on the roads in Rajshahi city, including Sahebbazar, Laxmipur, Katakhali, Shiroil Station and BSCIC Industrial Park, and in Paba, Godagari, Bagmara and Charghat upazilas.

Most of their drivers do not have driving license or other valid documents.

Public sufferings have reached its peak due to various irregularities, including reckless driving of the vehicles in violation of traffic laws and carrying excess passengers by them.

According to the police, over the past one year, more than 100 people have died and over 1,000 were injured in road accidents, largely attributed to reckless driving of these unfit vehicles.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Police and the district administration have launched periodic drives against these unauthorised vehicles.

"From January to April this year, cases have been filed for 67 road accidents that caused 67 deaths," said RafiqulAlam, additional superintendent of police.

Efforts are underway to introduce a colour-coding system for auto-rickshaws and stricter regulation on new vehicle approvals, officials said.

Local residents, meanwhile, have made a call for intensifying monitoring, strictly enforcing the traffic laws, and carrying out comprehensive road safety campaigns to mitigate the growing crisis.

A pedestrian named Mokhlesur Rahman in the city's Shiroil area said, "Rajshahi is praised nationwide as a small and compact city. The increasing number of easy bikes and battery-run rickshaws is causing traffic jams on the city roads."

"In the case of easy bikes, two colours have been assigned and divided into morning and afternoon. However, in most cases, that rule is not being followed. Again, there is no such rule in the case of rickshaws. Therefore, city dwellers are stuck in traffic jams," he added.

He emphasised proper supervision by the law enforcement agencies and strict enforcement of the laws to resolve the crisis.

Deputy Police Commissioner (Traffic) of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, NurAlam Siddiqui, said, "Our campaign to control the movement of unauthorised rickshaws is ongoing. I have told the city corporation and RDA not to give new permits. In addition, if the rickshaws are made two-coloured, the number of vehicles will come down. This will also reduce accidents."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abu Sufian said, "Instructions have been given to seize unlicensed rickshaws and auto-rickshaws.

The operation is underway. In addition, action will be taken after talking to the Rajshahi City Corporation to see if the drivers can be brought within the prescribed rules."

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