Despite four flyovers being constructed in Chattogram to ease traffic congestion and facilitate safe movement of city dwellers, lack of proper maintenance and safety are preventing the flyovers from yielding the desired benefits.
Most of the streetlights on these flyovers are broken. As darkness falls, these become safe havens for criminals. Drugs are being bought and sold on the flyovers.
Everything is being snatched from motorcyclists to get the 'Thread trap'. Flyovers have become havens for snatchers and criminals. As a result, traffic reduces after dusk.
When contacted, Nezam Uddin, Kotwali Police Officer-in-Charge told Bangladesh Post that there were incidents of snatching on the flyovers using various tactics. One of the tactics was to tie yarn on both sides of the flyover.
“Speeding motorcyclists get snarled in the yarn and fall. At this opportunity, the snatchers came and snatched their belongings,” he added.
According to Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) sources, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the construction of the longest Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury flyover in Chattogram on November 12, 2014, at a cost of about Tk. 698 core.
The MA Mannan Flyover was inaugurated on October 12, 2013 at a cost of Tk. 147 core under the supervision of Bangladesh Army.
Another flyover from Battali station to Dhaniyalapara on DT Road was inaugurated on December 6, 2015 at a cost of Tk. 58.22 core along with Dewanhat flyover which was opened to traffic in 2013.
It is learned that the victim and the police have been contacted, in the last 6 months, over more than 50 robberies that have taken place on four flyovers in Chattogram city.
It was seen that the snatchers had cut the iron railings on both sides at different places of MA Mannan flyover up to one kilometer from Bahaddarhat area, Chattogram.
Most of the streetlights on the flyovers are broken. As soon as evening falls, a haunted atmosphere descends on the flyover. It has been seen that the lights of the flyover have been installed on the iron pillars.
Many pillars were taken away by the snatchers. The same situation is with the other three including Akhtaruzzaman flyover.
On June 18 this year, a young man named Tamim was killed in a motorcycle accident at the GEC section of Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Flyover under Khulshi Police Station.
Tamim is the son of Shah Alam of Kazirhat area of Dhalai union of Hathazari upazila, Chattogram.
Besides, various incidents of snatching are happening every month around the flyovers.
In the last 6 months, at least one and a half dozen snatchers have been arrested from four flyovers in a RAB-police operation.
In the last one week, Kotwali police have arrested seven snatchers active in the flyover areas. Even then, snatching is not decreasing.
Several snatchers and gangs are active around the city's four flyovers in Chattogram. Among them are- three brothers Idu (Hatkata Idu), Robi, Nasir, Pichchi Alo, Tipu, Kalu, Faruq, Mona, Tuku. Hamka Raju, Zakir, Buishye, Saddam, Salauddin and Nasir's groups that are actively involved in snatching on the flyovers.
A man named Joynal Abedin, told Bangladesh Post that he was robbed on the Kadamtali flyover last June while riding a motorcycle. Slightly injured, since then, he has also reduced the use of flyovers.
RAB-7 Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahmudul Hasan Mamun said that they had arrested six members of a snatching gang that tied yarn on different flyovers of the city and snatched the passengers, last year.
