Opinion
Requisitioning private vehicles
Abu Imran
I am not aware about the genesis authorising the police to grab or requisition vehicles privately owned by people. It is a direct infringement of one's democratic right. Perhaps it could be possible by the colonial rulers in the long past to requisition or grab private properties. Then it was understandable as the relationship at that time was that of master and servant. But in the democratic situation, such kind of practice is unthinkable. Long ago it should have been done away with. Instead it is in vogue causing a lot of suffering to the owner besides causing damage to the vehicle itself. Some time back the vehicle of the office I work for was abruptly grabbed by the police in the name of requisitioning for the so called public interest. It is not understood how the cause of public interest would be served by depriving a member of the public? It is a common knowledge that such deprivation causes immense inconvenience as the public transport system in Bangladesh is in total mess. One has to wait and wait for a bus to board. If at all one comes, it is normally over crowded and one has to fight his way into the bus. Those who can somehow afford to pay for a cab or CNG autorickshaw are not always helped. They have to be dependent on the sweet will of the drivers. Firstly they don't want to go for a short distance. Further, usually the autorickshaw drivers ask for extra amount above the metered fare or an exorbitant lump-sum, not metered fare. This is unethical and nuisance which must stop. Fares are already high if we consider the gas price. Then they won't go to a destination which they consider not worth going. Even they refuse to go to attend to emergency situation like going to hospital or clinic. At least I faced their refusal several times. Their attitude perhaps has further hardened following rickshaw ban on a good number routes. Thanks to the authorities that they have not put the ban order on rickshaw on all routes. I am sorry to say that it is really foolish and un-wise to do away with an established system without making an alternative arrangement. Rickshaw could be an evil but it is a necessary evil in Bangladesh situation.Of course all the ills mentioned above can't be addressed in one go or within short time. The minimum favour that can be done in the interest of justice and fair play is that the requisitioning of private vehicles should be immediately stopped. By doing so, the government surely would earn appreciation of the people for physically restoring the fundamental democratic right of an individual to property and freedom of movement. It may not be out of place to mention and suggest that when the government would be faced with emergent situation needing vehicles, they can requisition the vehicles of sub-ordinate offices, autonomous bodies or hire vehicles from the providers. This will disturb nobody and purpose of the government be easily served. Abu Imran is a retired govt official.
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