The traders who use the Dhaka-Chittagong highway for transporting their goods to and from Chittagong have a long list of worries. The safety of their merchandise always remains at the top of the list. The incidence of armed robberies has been frequent on this important trade route and the robbers usually target goods-laden trucks and covered vans. A number of exporters, particularly those who ship apparels, have recently reported pillage of their fabrics and finished apparel products on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at gun point. On occasions, robbers allegedly stop vehicles identifying themselves as members of the law enforcing agencies and later decamp with goods. Obviously, the law enforcers would dismiss such allegations forthwith.
Businesses do worry a lot while they transport goods on the highways, particularly the one that links the Chittagong port. Traffic gridlocks have always been a great concern. Though the authorities are trying to resolve that problem by widening the highway under a cost-intensive project, the fruits are yet to reach the road-users. But the agencies concerned are, apparently, not much interested to ensure safety and security of a huge volume of goods being transported to and from Chittagong every day. Businesses have been complaining about frequent robberies in recent years. But the law enforcers, allegedly, are not doing the needful to help contain criminal activities and recover the looted goods.
The police do have a wing called the 'Highway Police' which is mandated to ensure safety and security on highways across the country. The members of that wing are expected to patrol the major and busy highways, if not all of them, to ensure safety of passengers and goods. But they have been failing to do so. Some cars were purchased with taxpayers' money for use by the 'Highway Police' in the recent past. But most of those are seen on Dhaka streets carrying police officials or members of their families. These days, local police stations only occasionally deploy their personnel to patrol highways to supplement the scanty presence of the highway police.
The manpower strength of the country's police force has been beefed up and they are now better-equipped than before. But their presence appears to be more in major cities, particularly in Dhaka. Maybe, the capital does need them in greater numbers. The authorities, however, cannot overlook the safety and security needs of other areas, particularly the highways. Traders use all modes of transports to carry their goods worth billions of takas every day. It is essential to ensure safety and security of their merchandise while in transit from one place to another.
In this context, the responsibility largely lies with the government. Of all the routes, goods transported on the land routes remain more vulnerable, in terms of safety and security. So, the government must ensure security by employing a greater number of police personnel and vehicles and gadgets to help rapid interception of the criminals active on highways. Besides, the police high-ups should immediately make a probe to find out if any of their men is involved in the criminal activities on highways and ensure proper punishment to the personnel concerned, if found guilty.
