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It is useful to think up and enforce measures in the public interest. The step to haul to police stations old vehicles found plying without fitness certificates or with over twenty years of age, was such a measure that had an instant impact in reducing traffic jam and environmental pollution. It created some inconveniences for members of the public who travelled on such junk vehicles. But the inconvenience were about to be removed through introduction of new vehicles in phases.
However, it appears that the undoubtedly salutary move is falling flat in the face of the activities of vested groups that ironically include those who are supposed to enforce it -- the police and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). A section of corrupt BRTA officials took bribes from the old vehicles' owners to make documents for them including fitness certificates. The vehicles were painted along with other cosmetic improvements to pass them off as worthy of plying on the roads. Many of these old vehicles with a changed face reappeared on the roads long ago . The unscrupulous traffic policemen are turning a blind eye to these vehicles. Needless to say, if this trend keeps up, a well intentioned move will peter out to be a useless one like so many other governmental measures in the past.
It is important for the top persons of the relevant ministry to wake up to these developments behind their backs. They should take follow-up steps to ensure that a sound move is not defeated by vested interests.
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