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Don't operate long route buses at night

IGP to transport owners

Staff Correspondent
The inspector general of police yesterday requested the transport owners not to run long-route buses at night amid continuing arson attacks across the country.
"We want to see no buses on the roads after 9:00pm. We requested the owners, but they were not willing to accept it. The matter will be discussed again with the high-ups,” said IGP AKM Shahidul Hoque after a meeting with road transport owners at Razarbagh Police Lines auditorium in the capital.
The owners said they would rather keep operating their vehicles at night and for this, they sought stringent security measures for the vulnerable points on the highways. They,
however, said they would talk with their district-level leaders about the IGP's request.
At least 19 transport workers have been killed and several hundred vehicles torched and vandalised since the BNP-led 20-party alliance announced a non-stop blockade on January 5.
Most of the major arson attacks took place at night and many of the vehicles attacked were operating under police, Rab and BGB protection.
Khandaker Enayetullah Khan, secretary general of Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity, told The Daily Star, "We do not see any reason to suspend transport operation at night. We have requested the law enforcement officials to ensure tight security at risky spots on highways and inside the capital.
"We, however, did not rule out the IGP's proposal out of hand. We have
sought two to three days' time to reach a decision in consultation with the district-level leaders."
He added, "Vehicles were torched even at workshops and while parked in safer places. We have to pay hefty amounts in instalments at the monthend. As our vehicles are safe nowhere and as the government has decided to pay compensation, we want to continue transport operation."
In the wake of the attacks on vehicles, the government has assured the transport owners of compensation for the damaged vehicles. So far, 774 applications have been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office for compensation, he added.
Dozens of top police officials and transport leaders attended the meeting.
Earlier, transport owners held several programmes including demonstrations to protest the ongoing blockade.