Despite police actions, easy bikes running illegally in Ctg

CHATTOGRAM, Apr 28: Over 20,000 battery-run autorickshaws are plying illegally with mostly stolen electricity, causing accidents and traffic congestion in Chattogram, despite recent police efforts to ban them.

The vehicles, locally known as 'Easy Bike' and 'Tom-Tom', are running on almost all roads in the city and rural areas of Chattogram. In the port city, they are the main cause of huge traffic congestion and accidents on the busy roads and the highways, including on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, Dhaka Cox's Bazar Highway, etc.

Sources said, around 3,000 autorickshaws have already been seized so far in an ongoing police operation aimed at banning the battery-powered autorickshaws in Chattogram city.

On April 23, an executive magistrate led a drive at the charging stations, or garages, in Outer Signal area of Kaptai Rastar Matha, where the law enforcers confiscated autorickshaws and disconnected electricity connections.

Motorcycles account for the highest number of accidents, followed by battery-run autorickshaws, according to Chittagong accident data obtained from sources. Reckless driving also plays a significant role in the accidents.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain called upon the law enforcers to take action against the illegal autorickshaws, saying that they are "consuming a lot of power and the drivers have no experience to operate such autorickshaws." He said, "I request the residents of Chattogram to refrain from using Easy Bikes to save their own life."

In the city, the autorickshaws are running illegally at important areas such as Patenga, Shershah, Baizid, Chalkbazar, CEPZ, Halishahar, Bondortila, Ehashan Mistrir Hat, Akber Shah, Chandgaon, Karnaphuli Bridge area, Pahartoli, Bakolia, Anderkillah and Laldighi.

These autorickshaws are consuming electricity mostly via illegal connections available at roadside garages in the city and rural areas. There are around 282 charging stations in the port city area and several hundreds of charging stations in the upazila areas in Chattogram. There are 30 charging stations at Patenga, 18 at Dewanhat, 25 at Pahartoli, 22 at Akbershah, 52 at Chandgaon, 25 at Old Chalk Bazar, 35 at Karnaphuli Bridge area in the city. Besides, some garages are also running charging stations by stealing power from electric poles. The autorickshaws are consuming more than 100 MW power every day in Chattogram.

On April 23, a clash between police and drivers of battery-powered autosrickshaws in the Outer-Signal area under Chandgaon Police Station in the city left 10 injured.

Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aftab Uddin said five among the injured are policemen.

"A case was later filed under the Special Powers Act. Those involved in the attack on police were identified through video footage. Launching raids, we have arrested a total of 51 accused in the case so far," he added.

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