Trucks, covered-vans defying Eid ban

Trucks, covered-vans and trailers have been seen plying on two highways at Gazipur despite a government ban on goods carriers on highways during the Eid rush of vehicles carrying home-bound vacationers. Police officials on duty in various sections of the highways said these slow-moving vehicles, coupled with the rush of home-goers, are causing tailbacks. Gazipur’s Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Hossain said, the communication ministry order, effective from Thursday, had been conveyed to the Highway Police and officials concerned on Wednesday. But, as the Eid rush swelled on Thursday, there was congestion at cross-roads including those at Bhogrha bypass, Chandana, Mawna on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway and Konabarhi, Kadda, Shafipur, Mouchak and Chandra on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway. Hossain expressed his helplessness over the situation. “It was supposed to be effective from Thursday. I can’t understand why these vehicles are being allowed on the roads.” Salna Highway Police OC Md Daud Khan, however, said stopping them midway on the highways would have aggravated the tailbacks. “Stopping these vehicles will lead to more trouble. These vehicles are plying on the Dhaka-Mymensingh and Dhaka-Tangail highways as they could not be stopped at Bhogrha.”
The police officer also pointed out that failure to regulate traffic flow on the highways by preventing u-turns at the Barsha Cinema Hall, Basan Road, Gazipura and Tongi College Gate was adding to the problem. However, SI Md Bahar Alam, in-charge of Naujor Highway Police Camp, said they had blocked off many such turns. Gazipur Traffic Division’s Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Md Shakhawat Hossain, on-duty in Chandra, said, “You cannot stop trucks, tankers and covered vans midway when they are on the highways.” District official Hossain said the failure to enforce the ban order would be investigated, according to bdnews24.com.