Driving on the wrong side

That the High Court had to issue a rule, asking the authorities concerned to explain by two weeks as to why they should not be directed to stop vehicles running on the wrong side of roads in Dhaka, is an indication of the lawlessness that prevails in the traffic management of the capital.

This is not the first time the highest court of the land had to instruct the authorities in this regard. We wonder why a court has to ask the police to do something that it should be doing as a part of its obligatory task. A suo moto rule issued in 2014 directed the government and the police to explain why they should not be asked to strictly enforce traffic rules to prevent some VIPs and VVIPs from driving on the wrong side of roads that increase the capital's traffic congestion. Neither party has, reportedly, bothered to submit replies to the rules until now.

It seems that traffic rule is now observed in its breach. Private cars and public transports are also frequently found in violation of traffic rules, resulting in the death of innocent people. A couple of days ago, a bus travelling on the wrong side crushed a pedestrian to death and injured seven in front of the Gabtoli Bus Terminal. 

Rules should be enforced and rule breakers should be dealt with as per the law irrespective of their social standing. The recent comment of the DMP commissioner is indicative of his helplessness to control the menace. The police should think hard about why and how they seem to have lost the moral authority to uphold the law.