Home
+
Police do not patrol the expressway because they do not have separate allocation to pay tolls
Published : 23 Oct 2023, 02:27 AM
Dhaka Elevated Expressway, the first of its kind in Bangladesh, opened to the public partially in September much to the delight of many who want to avoid jam-packed streets.
But the option to travel quickly on the almost empty expressway can also be a blessing in disguise for criminals who want a quick getaway, with no one to stop them.
Even the law enforcers have to pay tolls for using the structure being built under a Tk 89 billion project.
After paying tolls at the entrances, the vehicles are free to exit through their desired points.
This is exactly what a group of robbers did on Oct 20 after hijacking a car carrying the employees of a company who had Tk 4.8 million with them.
The criminals, posing as Rapid Action Battalion personnel, dropped the company employees on the 300 Feet Road after taking away the money.
Police’s Detective Branch revealed the incident at a press conference after arresting seven suspects and recovering half the funds.
The revelation called into question security measures on the expressway.
“Three employees of my company were traumatised by the heist. They felt bad that they had faced such an incident because they wanted to travel quickly,” said Sohel Ahmed Sultan, owner of Mother Textile Mills.
“The elevated expressway is a matter of pride for us. So, such incidents should not recur here,” he said, calling for measures for safe travel on the expressway.
The expressway is under CCTV camera surveillance, but the authorities do not have armed personnel who can challenge fleeing criminals.
Usually, the local police stations ensure security in an area, but there is no particular force for the expressway because it is being implemented under a project.
Police said they need separate allocation for tolls or free access to the expressway for patrolling.
“We are communicating with the high-ups to find out ways to keep the expressway safe,” said Harunor Rashid, an additional commissioner at Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch.
Project Director AHM Shakhawat Akter said their workers patrol the expressway all the time.
“But problems will occur if criminals pose as law enforcers.”
He declined to comment on whether the patrolling will be done in coordination with police.
Quazi Shahan Haque, chief of Khilkhet Police Station, said police had contacted the authorities to discuss security on the expressway.
“But an accident has taken place before [the discussion],” he said
“At least, security can be ensured on a large section of the expressway if vehicles from our station are allowed to patrol the expressway,” said Shahan.
