Different scene on Hare Road

The strict enforcement of traffic rules for three consecutive days has brought some discipline on the city's Hare Road yesterday as most vehicles used the correct side of the street.

Only five bikers were penalised for taking the wrong side on the road during yesterday's two-hour traffic police drive that started around 5:00pm.

Some flag-carrying vehicles, many SUVs of government officials, vehicles of law enforcers and media outlets were also seen on correct side of the street, stuck in traffic jams.

Cars carrying ministers, lawmakers, high-ranking civil and military and police officials, ruling party leaders and journalists going against traffic while others were stuck in tailbacks had become a common phenomenon on Hare Road.

Police started a special drive by penalising all traffic rule violators on Sunday, an initiative hugely appreciated on social media.

On the first day, police fined 57 drivers for going against traffic on Hare Road. A state minister, a lawmaker, several top bureaucrats, an army officer and journalists were among those penalised.

Vehicles of a senior and a deputy secretary of the home ministry, an additional secretary of the ministry of communications and an officer of the public administration ministry were also fined.

On Monday, the driver of Secretary Mafruha Sultana of the Rural Development and Co-Operatives Division was fined for the second consecutive day for travelling against traffic. Mafruha was in the car on both occasions, on Hare Road on Sunday and near Bangla Motor the next day.

On Tuesday, police penalised SUV of a top-ranking police officer, a joint secretary, and more than 57 motorcycle riders on Hare Road and Bijoy Sarani.

Altaf Hossen, an inspector of Ramna Zone Traffic who was in yesterday's drive, claimed that the trend of violating traffic rules, including taking the wrong side of the road, was waning.

“We will continue our drive,” he said.