Traffic police stopped a vehicle carrying Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat in Dhaka on Thursday morning after it was allegedly found driving on the wrong side of the road, filing two cases and imposing Tk 6,000 in fines.
The incident took place after 9am when the Range Rover, bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-Gha-18-2125, was traveling toward the Secretariat after passing in front of Kakrail Mosque, according to sources familiar with the incident.
A Traffic Ramna Division official wishing to be anonymous, said the vehicle had violated its lane and was obstructing normal traffic movement. The official said traffic police stopped the vehicle in front of the Secretariat and informed its driver, Arif Hossain, that driving on the wrong side of the road in such a manner was a violation of traffic rules.
The official said the vehicle was carrying a flag and that the minister was inside when traffic police stopped it. A traffic officer on duty subsequently detained the vehicle, and the cases were filed in the presence of senior officials.
Traffic Sergeant Sifat Mahmud, who was on duty at the time, filed the two cases.
The two cases carry fines of Tk 3,000 each, totaling Tk 6,000. One case was filed for creating an obstruction to traffic movement, while the other was for driving the vehicle unsafely.
Speaking to the media about the incident, Sergeant Sifat said: “I could not believe that a case could be filed against a minister’s vehicle. It is a rare incident.”
He said the traffic control room had also been informed about the incident and that the Special Security Force (SSF) had instructed them to take action.
“The driver of the vehicle also admitted to violating traffic rules,” Sifat said.