A total of 143 people have been fined for crossing the road without foot over-bridges or violating traffic rules in different areas of the capital during the first day drive.
The traffic department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has started its pre-announced special drives against jaywalkers in the capital on Tuesday morning.
Md Sarwoer Alam, executive magistrate, and Magistrate Abdul Kuddus told the Dhaka Tribune that so far 80 people including 14 women from Farmgate and Karwan Bazar area and 63 from Banglamotor area were fined for jaywalking.
Deputy Police Commissioner of Dhaka City Corporation Traffic (South) Khan Mohammad Redwan said: “The traffic department has taken all necessary measures to create awareness among the pedestrians. We are distributing leaflets, requesting them to use footbridges and underpasses while crossing busy streets.”
“Those who are not following the rules are being brought under law. A special mobile court is conducting drives against the jaywalkers from Tuesday morning.”
Earlier, the authorities have decided to take strict punitive measures, including six-month jail, against the pedestrians for crossing busy roads without using footbridge or underpass.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Benazir Ahmed made an announcement that a special mobile court would conduct drive against the jaywalkers from Tuesday.
He said: “A special mobile court will start its operation to stop the pedestrians crossing busy roads without using footbridges and underpasses. The violators will get six-month jail and they also have to pay Tk200 as fine.”
“But before starting the drive, Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] will start a three-day campaign in the city, beginning from Saturday.”
He also urged the city dwellers to extend their support to the authorities in a bid to reduce life risk and traffic mismanagement.
There are over 40 footbridges and three underpasses in the capital. But, almost all of them remain devoid of pedestrians as most of the foot-over-bridges in the capital have been grabbed by hawkers with their makeshift shops, creating hassle for the commuters.
