Illegal battery-run and non battery-run three-wheelers continue to operate on the city roads as police allegedly allow union leaders to issue permit tokens in exchange for bribes, which accumulates to around Tk20 lakh per month.
Most of these illegal vehicles have locally-made bodies and run on low quality engines, posing great risks to the lives of their passengers, pedestrians and other vehicles.
Although leaders of these union bodies acknowledge the token system, they claim that the revenue generated from these tokens are used as donations for the welfare fund of the workers.
Mobashwer Ali Khondokar, president of the Barisal district Auto-Rickshaw, Tempo, Baby Taxi, and Cab Owners’ Association, said only around 500 diesel-operated and 1,200 battery-run three wheelers have valid licenses.
“More than 2,000 diesel and battery-run three-wheelers are illegally operating on different roads and streets of the city without any number plates, legal or fitness documents, licenses or any kind of permit from the authorities concerned. These vehicles continue their operation by agreeing to pay a ‘non- harassment token,’” the association’s City Secretary Advocate S M Rafikul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.
An investigation found out that every month, drivers or owners of illegal battery-run or motorised three-wheelers are made to pay around Tk1,000, which comes down to Tk 300-500 for legal ones, to receive a ‘non-harassment token’ signed by approved agents or staff who manage law enforcers and other authorities on their behalf.
Sources also informed that at least 60% of the sum collected from these ‘non-harassment tokens’ are distributed among police officials while the rest get divided among different officials of the BRTA, the BCC, the district administration and the leaders of the ruling party and different associations.
When asked, the BRTA Barisal Office Deputy Director Uttam Kumar Barua said BRTA has jurisdiction only over fuel-run vehicles and the City Corporation has added the word ‘auto’ with these battery-run three wheelers and is responsible for issuing the licenses for them.
Meanwhile, an official of the transport section of the Barisal City Corporation has told this correspondent that, till now, the city corporation has issued licences to some 1,209 battery-run three wheelers and is expected to award licences to another 1,000 rickshaws upgraded with battery-run engines.
However, many illegal vehicles continue to operate without any number plate from the BRTA or the BCC by sticking ‘On-Test’ labels or with forged documents.
However, law enforcement agencies and other authorities concerned are apparently not taking any punitive measures against these ill practices although they have full jurisdiction to take action against any kind of unlicensed vehicle.
When asked, Barisal Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (traffic) Mahmud Hasan brushed off the allegations and said regular drives are being conducted to check the validity and fitness licenses of all three-wheelers in the city.