No more drive!

Three public representatives, including a lawmaker, have asked the district administration to stop the drive against unauthorised vehicles like human hauliers and three-wheelers on Natore-Pabna highway.

They are Abdul Quddus, lawmaker of Natore-4 (Baraigram-Gurudashpur constituency), Siddik Patwary, Baraigram upazila chairman, and KM Zakir Hossain, Bonpara municipality mayor.

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Talking to The Daily Star over phone, lawmaker Quddus said at yesterday's law and order meeting, they made the request as people were suffering because they could not take their vegetables to markets and patients to hospitals due to the drive against unauthorised vehicles.

The deputy commissioner of the district has called a meeting on September 3 to discuss how to reduce road accidents and find out a solution for reducing people's sufferings, said Quddus, also president of Natore Awami League.

Contacted, Siddik Patwary said they asked the local administration not to continue the drive.

Anwar Parvez, Baraigram upazila nirbahi officer, said the three told the meeting that they wanted the drive on the highway to stop. “But we did not make any comment in this regard.”

Sub-inspector Habibur Rahman, acting officer-in-charge of Bonpara Highway Police Station, said, “As long as our higher authorities do not ask us to stop the drive, we will not allow any three-wheelers or any other unauthorised vehicles on the highway.”

Shariful Islam, in-charge of Jhalmolia highway police outpost, said they regularly conducted drives with speed guns to prevent vehicles from speeding.

On Tuesday, Shafiqul Islam Shimul, lawmaker from Natore Sadar constituency, protested a mobile court drive against unauthorised vehicles on Natore-Bogra highway.