Roads secretary says three-wheeler drivers demonstrating without understanding ban on highways

Roads and Highways Division Secretary M A N Siddique has said the three-wheeler drivers, who are demonstrating against the ban on the national highways, did not properly understand what it meant.

He pointed out on Sunday the ban was enforced on only 3,570 kilometres of national highways, which was only 1.42 percent of all roads in Bangladesh. 
 
“The three-wheelers can run on other roads. The government will be implementing the ban on three-wheelers plying the national highways. There are no chances of taking a step back.”   
 
He added a map marking the stretches where the ban was applicable in each district was available on their website.

The High Court last year asked authorities to ban three-wheeler auto-rickshaws and shallow-engine-run human haulers from the highways of 10 south-western districts. But the ruling could not be implemented in face of protests from their drivers.

On July 27, prompted by the spike in accidents on the highways, the government in an order banned the slow-running transports.

But, the drivers started agitations on different highways on Saturday, the day the ban became effective. Auto-rickshaws were defying the ban despite check posts, where they were fined.

On Sunday, the demonstrations continued leading to tailbacks in various locations.

Siddique said the initial reaction of the auto-rickshaw drivers came from their misunderstanding of the ban, “Things will slowly settle down. People’s lives would be saved.”

The secretary continued that three-wheelers can ply on all other roads and that the people on the ground welcomed the government move.

He pointed out slow-moving vehicles using the highways along with fast moving vehicles was the key reason for accidents. 

The roads damaged in the rainy season were being repaired, “No accident due to road conditions would occur in the next one year.”

He added that divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, DIG, DIG Highway and SPs were asked to prevent auto-rickshaws from plying the highways.

BRTA magistrates were also working to that end, the secretary added.