Illegal easy-bikes on rise in Bandarban
The number of unauthorised battery-run three-wheelers, locally known as easy-bikes, has tripled in the tourist town in the last two years, thanks to the negligence of the authorities concerned.
More than 600 easy-bikes now ply the roads of the town area against only 200 in 2013, said sources of easy-bike owners association.
According to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1983, no motor vehicle can run without six documents -- registration, fitness certificate, tax token, route permit, insurance certificate and driving license while the easy-bikes have none of these.
"An easy-bike is run by five rechargeable batteries that need to be charged eight hours daily. With the amount of electricity needed for the purpose, some 34 energy bulbs of 23 watts each can be lit for eight hours," said Pradeep Kumar Saha, executive engineer of Power Development Board (PDB) in Bandarban.
The locals alleged that the easy-bike batteries are charged with illegal connections taken from the nearby electric poles, affecting power supply in the district.
The PDB engineer also admitted the situation.
The vehicles mainly ply the town's Bus station, Traffic intersection, Madhyam Para, Ujanipara, Balaghata, Kalaghata, New Gulshan and Hafezghona areas and they use portions of the roads for stands, creating traffic problem.
The vehicles are not only illegal but also risky due to their shaky structure, said Palash Kisha, motor vehicle inspector of BRTA in Bandarban.
An east-bike meant for accommodating four passengers often carries eight people, posing risk, locals said.
Admitting that they have no valid documents, Md Mamunur Rashid, president of Super Bike Auto Rickshaw Owners Association in the district, said they are operating the vehicles through 'managing Bandarban municipality authorities and police'.
“Earlier, police would prevent us from running the vehicles on the town roads, but after we agreed to pay them Tk 10 per vehicle daily they stopped interfering. And so, easy-bikes are plying the main roads of the district without any obstruction,” Mamun added.
However, Salauddin Mamun, traffic sergeant of the district, termed the allegation of taking bribes as baseless.
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