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300 cars requisitioned every day by cops

It has become a permanent system to meet vehicle demand by police

Kailash Sarkar
In the name of public interest, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) continues temporarily requisitioning around 300 private vehicles on a daily basis through a controversial requisition law that the police chief himself terms a "black law".
This requisitioning is supposed to be made on the basis of urgent need. But this has become a daily affair as the need for these vehicles has become "permanent".
Yet nobody in the government seems to be taking the initiative to fill up the demand of motor vehicles through procurement. "The
reality is that requisition will continue in this manner because nobody will take the initiative," says a top police official.
With such a system in effect, the vehicle owners fall prey to a section of unscrupulous DMP officials, who allegedly take bribe from them threatening of acquiring their vehicles. When a vehicle is requisitioned, it may be subject to damage.
The system has also given rise to misuse of the law and harassment of the vehicle owners. This has led to filing of several writs with the High Court challenging the law as well as the system. But the writs
remain pending for years.
Although the existing laws direct the authorities to provide compensation to the vehicle owners and meal allowances to the drivers and helpers the DMP doesn't do so, allege drivers and owners.
DMP Commissioner Naim Ahmed defends requisitioning vehicles saying it is done for national interest and as per the DMP Ordinance, 1990.
But Inspector General of Police (1GP) Nur Mohammad himself terms the requisition law a black law that might continue to exist
“Among the police laws, it is one of the black laws and also one of the bad jobs of the police department," the 1GP said. "The police had to do it for the greater interests of the country despite sufferings of the citizens."
In reply to a question, the police boss said, ' I here is no alternative to it, as the government has neither sufficient vehicles nor enough fund to purchase more to meet the requirement."
The DMP commissioner said they are reviewing the existing requisition policy to stop harassment of the vehicle owners and misuse of the law as well as inappropriate usage of requisitioned vehicles.
"Earlier, we couldn't compensate the owners and provide meal allowances to the drivers and helpers for lack of fund. We've submitted a proposal to the government seeking allocation of Tk 5.25 crore annually in this regard," hesaid.
He added according to the proposed policy, vehicle owners would be provided with compensation if any of their vehicles gets damaged during the requisition period.
Sources say the law enforcement and other government agencies manage vehicles through requisitioning by the transport department of the DMR as they have shortage of transport.
Assistant Commissioner of the Motor Transport (AC-MT) Department Sudip Kumer Chakraborti told The Daily Star around 200 vehicles are requisitioned by the DMP every day. The number is often increased due to political situations and the government's special activities, he added.
He said the DMP requisitions every day over 80 buses, around 75 pickup-vans, 40 microbuses, five trucks and around 10 taxicabs.
He went on to say the DMP requisitioned highest 825 vehicles a day during the last days of the BNP rule.
DMP sources say they meet their own demands through requisitioned vehicles and also supply those to the joint forces, Rapid Action Battalion, prosecution department, Dhaka Deputy Commissioner's Office for conducting mobile court drives, and several other government agencies for various purposes.
But insiders say the traffic officials often harass the vehicle owners and also collect bribe from them threatening them with requisition.
Besides, there are allegations that a number of government high officials use the requisitioned vehicles for their personal use.
Khandaker Rafiqul Hossain Kazol, president of Association of Bus Companies (ABC), termed requisitioning a "corrupt " system.
"The bus transport sector is severely being hampered due to requisition system as at least 80 buses of the Companies always remain requisitioned. But we never get the compensation and the meal allowances."
"To avoid harassment, we always provide around 80 buses to the DMP. The government itself should arrange the necessary transport to its agencies."
Bangladesh Truck Owners Association general secretary Rustum Ali said, "In the name of requisition, the police officials often harass us."
"They do whatever they want and also often collect money from us," he alleged.
According to existing laws, a vehicle can be requisitioned for highest seven days against everyday payment of Tk 500 to its owner
and Tk 50 each to its driver and helper as meal allowance.
But this is not in practice since independence.
Moreover, over 500 requisitioned vehicles were burned to ashes or damaged severely on different occasions, but the owners did not get a single penny from DMP.
Earlier on February 12 in 2005, the HC stayed the DMP functioning on requisition of private cars plying in the city after a writ was filed by Kafil Uddin, a leader of Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association.
But The Supreme Court (SC) on March 5, 2005, stayed the HC decision until March 31 the same year.
The HC also ordered the DMP not to requisition any vehicles for six months as SC lawyer Tobarak Hossain filed another writ in August 2004 challenging the requisition laws. But the SC also stayed that HC order.
SC lawyerTobarak Hossain said, "The case remains pending for years. But 1 am carrying out the procedures."
Talking to The Daily Star, AC-MT Sudip Kumer said over 15 writs were filed in different times regard-ingrequisition.
The DMP commissioner said following the writs, the DMP formed a six-member committee to compensate the vehicle owners and allocate meal allowances.
AKM Hafiz Akhter, (DC-Transport) said, "Though there were laws for providing compensation, there was no regular allocation. The government on different occasions paid some amount which was not sufficient."
Asked, the DC-Transport said, "The owners often do not come to receive their compensation considering it as harassment since they have to wait for months."
He said according to the new proposal, the DMP sought Tk 4.5 crore yearly for compensation and Tk 75 lakh for the meal allowances.
According to the new proposal, a large-sized bus would get compensation ofTk 1,000, minibusTk 700, microbus and truckTk 600 and car and taxicabTk 400 per day.