10 lakh unregistered motorbikes in country: police and BRTA
The use of unregistered motorbikes in crimes across the country increased sharply in recent times raised serious nationwide concerns.
The problem is providing a fresh source of concern for the police as well as the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said officials.
There are about 10 lakh unregistered and 11.85 lakh registered motorbikes in the country, said police and the BRTA officials.
The chronic failure to stop the use of unregistered motorbikes has been blamed for the situation.
In the ongoing drive which began on July 15, the police confiscated 47,000 unregistered motorbikes, said officials.
The police also collected Tk 2.47 lakh in fines from the motorcyclists for flouting traffic rules across the country, they said.
The use of motorbikes in the recent killing of a Japanese and an Italian raised fresh questions about the success of the police drive.
The use motorbikes in major as well as petty crimes increased sharply, said police headquarters officials.
They said that the criminals find motorbikes convenient to speedily leave crime spots.
Most of the unregistered motorbikes evaded action during the ongoing drive with the riders taking feeder roads, lanes and by-lanes, said deputy inspector general of police (operations) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
The riders of unregistered motorbikes use stickers of press, lawyer, police, ministries and even political parties to evade action by the police, said police officials.
They also use AFR plates to create the impression that had applied for registration, they said.
Killers of Japanese national Hoshi Kunio used press sticker, they said.
During political unrest also motorbikes are used for throwing bombs and in hijacking. After the murder of Hoshi Kunio the home ministry imposed a fresh ban on pinion riding by three or more on a motorbike.
But the ban is seldom enforced.
A common picture is Motorbike riders developed the practice of flouting traffic rules on roads and highways.
They seldom follow traffic signals and use footpaths causing inconvenience to pedestrians.
A High Court directive issued on March 5, 2012, to motorbikes off the footpaths was never enforced.
Rampura resident Shuvro Shawkat said that unpredictable conduct of motorcyclists on roads cause inconvenience to pedestrians and vehicle drivers.
The police usually look the other way whenever motorcyclists flout traffic rules, he said.
Dhaka University psychology professor Nazrul Islam thinks frustration born out of chronic traffic congestions and the authorities’ law violations prompt the aggressive behaviour of motorcyclists on the roads.
The police think twice before taking action against motorcyclist many of whom are powerful political cadres, he said.
This reality inspires the police to take a stoic view of what happens before their nose, he said.
On May 17, inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque asked riders to get their motorbikes registered by June 30. Later, the deadline was extended until July 15.
The police drive against unregistered motorbikes began on July 15.
Since the number of applicants for the registration of motorcycles increased manifold, said BRTA deputy director (engineering) Sitangshu S Biswas.
He told New Age Wednesday that BRTA gave registration to 19,170 motorbikes in May, 42,122 in June, 35,737 in July, 74,093 in August and 43,844 in September.
Usually, he said, up to 10,000 motorcycles were registered every month.
In April, 8,877 motor bikes were registered, he said.
The countrywide drive against unregistered motorcycles and motorcyclists without license would continue, said DIG Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
The problem is providing a fresh source of concern for the police as well as the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said officials.
There are about 10 lakh unregistered and 11.85 lakh registered motorbikes in the country, said police and the BRTA officials.
The chronic failure to stop the use of unregistered motorbikes has been blamed for the situation.
In the ongoing drive which began on July 15, the police confiscated 47,000 unregistered motorbikes, said officials.
The police also collected Tk 2.47 lakh in fines from the motorcyclists for flouting traffic rules across the country, they said.
The use of motorbikes in the recent killing of a Japanese and an Italian raised fresh questions about the success of the police drive.
The use motorbikes in major as well as petty crimes increased sharply, said police headquarters officials.
They said that the criminals find motorbikes convenient to speedily leave crime spots.
Most of the unregistered motorbikes evaded action during the ongoing drive with the riders taking feeder roads, lanes and by-lanes, said deputy inspector general of police (operations) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
The riders of unregistered motorbikes use stickers of press, lawyer, police, ministries and even political parties to evade action by the police, said police officials.
They also use AFR plates to create the impression that had applied for registration, they said.
Killers of Japanese national Hoshi Kunio used press sticker, they said.
During political unrest also motorbikes are used for throwing bombs and in hijacking. After the murder of Hoshi Kunio the home ministry imposed a fresh ban on pinion riding by three or more on a motorbike.
But the ban is seldom enforced.
A common picture is Motorbike riders developed the practice of flouting traffic rules on roads and highways.
They seldom follow traffic signals and use footpaths causing inconvenience to pedestrians.
A High Court directive issued on March 5, 2012, to motorbikes off the footpaths was never enforced.
Rampura resident Shuvro Shawkat said that unpredictable conduct of motorcyclists on roads cause inconvenience to pedestrians and vehicle drivers.
The police usually look the other way whenever motorcyclists flout traffic rules, he said.
Dhaka University psychology professor Nazrul Islam thinks frustration born out of chronic traffic congestions and the authorities’ law violations prompt the aggressive behaviour of motorcyclists on the roads.
The police think twice before taking action against motorcyclist many of whom are powerful political cadres, he said.
This reality inspires the police to take a stoic view of what happens before their nose, he said.
On May 17, inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque asked riders to get their motorbikes registered by June 30. Later, the deadline was extended until July 15.
The police drive against unregistered motorbikes began on July 15.
Since the number of applicants for the registration of motorcycles increased manifold, said BRTA deputy director (engineering) Sitangshu S Biswas.
He told New Age Wednesday that BRTA gave registration to 19,170 motorbikes in May, 42,122 in June, 35,737 in July, 74,093 in August and 43,844 in September.
Usually, he said, up to 10,000 motorcycles were registered every month.
In April, 8,877 motor bikes were registered, he said.
The countrywide drive against unregistered motorcycles and motorcyclists without license would continue, said DIG Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
Source: New Age
