Unauthorised rental bikes operating in Cox's Bazar

COX'S BAZAR, Nov 07: Illegal rental bike service is continuing on Marine Drive Road in Cox's Bazar creating a hazardous situation for the traffic as well as risks for fatal accidents any moment.

Accidents have become a common phenomenon on the busy thoroughfare for reckless driving by the riders of the unauthorised motorbikes. Alongside rash driving, riding motorcycles without using helmet is also to be prominently blamed for frequent accidents.

The number of casualties involving motorbike crashes on the road mostly frequently by tourists is also significant.

Several thousand tour lovers visit Cox's Bazar every day and locals are involved in various business activities for their livelihood in service to the tourists- and one such activity is 'rental bike service for tourists'. If there is any damage to the motorcycle even due to a minor accident, the tourists are held hostage for compensation by the renters. Besides, many tourists complained that they were insulted various ways in such cases.

At Kolatali Dolphin Crossing, Sugandha Point and several places on the Marine Drive Road, driving licenses and helmetless are rented to the bike riders. Motorcycles are rented at the rate of Tk200-300 per hour.

Many people coming into the sea on a pleasure trip rent these motorcycles even without knowing how to operate them properly and often cause accidents.

The number of deaths from motorcycle operation involving toursists is increasing day by day.

Tourists mostly meet accidents when they come to unfamiliar places without wearing helmets. Many of them lose lives while many become crippled.

Even though these bikes are not approved for operation, unscrupulous traders are doing brisk business with these illegal vehicles on the Marine Drive Road.

Most of the drivers of these bikes are unskilled; so there lies risk of accidents happening any moment.

Locals alleged that even though these illegal vehicles are traded on the important roads of the tourist town, no action is being taken by the administration to stop it.

According to competent sources, at least 10 people have lost lives in accidents involving vehicles of the 'rental bike service' in Cox's Bazar town in the last one year. More than fifty people were injured the accidents.

Local youths and tourists especially operate these motorcycles on rent and they choose the Marine Drive Road as a quiet place.

Local resident Abul Kashem said illegal rental bike business should be stopped. Hundreds of young people are losing lives prematurely because of these bikes.

Samir Saha, a tourist from Dhaka, said that he fell off while enjoying a trip on a rented bike around Marine Drive.

"Due to a minor damage to the motorcycle, I had to pay a double compensation. Besides, as I understood when I came here, bike renters collect money by holding tourists hostage showing various reasons," added Mr Saha.

Tourism officials said that due to the rental bike service, there frequently happen incidents of loss of lives. So operation of these rental bikes should be immediately stopped. They sought intervention of the government in this regard.

Assistant Director of BRTA Cox's Bazar office, Uthwayinu Chowdhury, said commercial operation of any private vehicle like motorbike should not be allowed.

"Renting private motorcycles in the name of rental bike service is illegal. We have conducted several drives and realised fines in the past for unauthorised operation of motorbikes. But when the campaign ends, the offence starts again. When the situation becomes normal, the operation will be conducted again," added Mr Cho-wdhury.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Cox's Bazar, Jasim Uddin Cho-wdhury, said rental bike drivers have been warned several times about wearing helmets and using licenses. But many are not going by the directive. Action will be taken in this regard."

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