Editorial
Requisition woes
No trace of fair-play
THE revelation that Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) owes more than Tk 100 crore as compensation for vehicles they had requisitioned from various private and government organisations in the last thirty years, is a proof of how exploitative the system has become. Section 103 KA of the DMP ordinance, 1976 empowers the police to commandeer transports but it is in the application of the law that they wax arbitrary. It is on-the-spot requisition of vehicles, often turning a blind eye to their owners' or operators' circumstances that is a prime cause for regret.Allegations by affected transport owners that their vehicles were used for purposes other than those stated to them could not be trifled with either. So, what is to be done? Since the ordinance is in effect and being used, the owners should be given an advance notice for requisition indicating the duration for which their vehicles are needed, so that they can plan out of the unforeseen circumstances. Most importantly, the authorities must ensure that proper compensation is paid to the citizens for having used their vehicles. This is to cover for the loss of business they might incur. Many of the impounded vehicles come from a fleet of transports used in the 'rent a car' business. No one should be made to suffer financial losses through requisition. It is necessary to amend the ordinance in order to provide for compensation to the transport owners. In a democratic society and free market economy, we would much rather the government had done away with the requisition business except in highly exceptional circumstances when people would like to make sacrifices for greater public good. Actually, a modern police force should have a big enough transport fleet of its own to meet its requirements.
| 
