Sylhet, Sep 02 (V7N) - Following the downfall of the government due to the anti-discrimination student movement, the Sylhet Metropolitan Traffic Police Office has faced extensive damage. Valuable cars, furniture, and numerous crucial documents worth millions have been stolen.
 
Recovering from this damage will take considerable time. After the government fell, and the traffic police went on strike for a period, students and opposition members stepped in to manage the city’s traffic. Although new leaders were appointed to run the country, the trauma and fear from that period still visibly affect the police officers. Due to the destruction and arson by a corrupt group during the student protests, the Sylhet Metropolitan Traffic Office’s regular operations are significantly disrupted. Currently, traffic police are focused on managing traffic congestion and maintaining order on the roads. However, they have been unable to address the issues of illegal and fitness-unfit vehicles.
 
In the past week, traffic congestion has increased across Sylhet at major points throughout the city. Observations indicate that, due to the lack of action or legal cases against illegal or fitness-unfit vehicles by the traffic police, a group of unscrupulous CNG rickshaw operators has managed to gain entry into the city through monetary transactions with the on-duty traffic officers. This situation is prevalent at various key locations in Sylhet city and its surrounding areas, including Sylhet-Kompani Ganj-Gowain Ghat, Salutikar, Bishnakandi, Golapganj, Osmaninagar, Beanibazar, and South Surma.
 
According to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Sylhet office, there are 21,232 registered CNG-operated rickshaws in Sylhet. Over five years ago, more than fifteen hundred applications for CNG rickshaw registration were submitted, but none of these applications have been processed. Additionally, over two thousand more CNG rickshaws are operating without having applied for registration. These rickshaws display labels such as ‘applied’ or ‘untested’ on their plates. Recently, several hundred new rickshaws are using fake auction GD numbers to operate. These vehicles are now seen running on the roads noisily.
 
Investigations reveal that these illegal CNG rickshaws are operating under the Sylhet District CNG Rickshaw Workers Union. Through collusion with police, union leaders, BRTA, and local political figures, these CNG rickshaws are being allowed to operate in the city. They are collecting large sums of money in exchange for ‘legitimizing’ these vehicles. Further investigation shows that a branch of the CNG Rickshaw Workers Union operates in Ambar Khana and Salutikar South Surma's Kadamtali Overbridge, controlling around a thousand illegal rickshaws. Each vehicle’s number plate reads ‘Sylhet-TH-12-Applied’ or Auction No GD X.
 
The union leaders collect 1,000 takas per month from each rickshaw, with the token valid for one month. Drivers face issues if they do not pay for the token monthly. Additionally, a syndicate controls these illegal rickshaws, with their signed tokens allowing them to operate year after year. Approximately 1 million takas are collected monthly from registration-free CNG rickshaws. Drivers report that a portion of the collected funds is shared among union leaders, Airport Police, Ambar Khana Police Outpost, Kompani Ganj, Gowain Ghat Police, and South Surma Police.
 
Recently, areas including Ambar Khana, Tilaghar, Golapganj, Osmaninagar, Tuker Bazaar, and South Surma were visited, revealing that CNG rickshaws without BRTA approval (CNG 1 untested) are once again operating in the city and nearby sub-district roads with signs stating either Applied or Auction. Regarding this, Sylhet Metropolitan Traffic Police ADC Rakhi Rani stated that the traffic department experienced significant damage and looting during the student movement.
 
Currently, police officers are working to manage traffic congestion and restore order on the roads. We have not yet been able to take action or file cases against registration-free illegal rickshaws or other vehicles. Proposals for various actions have been sent to the head office in Dhaka. The situation is slowly returning to normal, and we hope that our operations will resume and measures will be taken against all registration-free illegal CNG rickshaws and other vehicles.
 
END/AKR/SMA?