Desk Report: As the human haulers do not have route permits, they will not be allowed on roads- soon after such declaration by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia on Tuesday, the modified four-wheelers stopped running on the main roads of the capital, reports Daily Asian Age.
Those vehicles were not found on the main roads except some lanes. The passengers took alternative means of transportation. Though the ban intensified transport scarcity, they welcomed the move of police in bringing regularities back.
Farhan Mostakim used to take those modified mini-vehicles from Mirpur Darus Salam to Mohakhali. He was late at his office yesterday and had to face transport ordeals. He, however, said: “As those have no route permit, I welcome the initiative of police.”
There was no human hauler, also known as ‘Laguna’, at Badda-Satrasta route. Those vehicles used to take u-tern from Moghbazar Chourasta to pick passengers amid busy traffic. The vehicles were also found not plying at Chittagong Road to New Market route yesterday.
Although Mirpur-Mohakhali route was off-limit for Laguna yesterday, some of those were found operating at Shewrapara to Ibrahimpur route taking the lanes which are actually feeders to main roads.
However, few of the vehicles ran at Gulistan-Nababganj and Chawkbazar routes. Mohammadpur-Badda, Farmgate-Shia Mosque and Zigatola-Mirpur-1 routes also saw no Laguna yesterday.
Founder president of Bangladesh Lightweight Vehicle Drivers’ Union Borhan Halder Jasim said they kept their vehicles parked soon after the announcement of DMP. “We serve the people and many of us are fully dependent on this transport sector. We request the authorities for issuing route permits considering the humane aspects,” he appealed.