Thousands of unregistered and expired autorickshaws are flooding the streets of Jhalakathi, causing severe traffic jams and increasing the daily risk of accidents.
According to the municipality, the city has a legal limit of 1,350 registered autorickshaws. However, over 3,000 are currently operating on the roads. The majority of these unauthorized vehicles are operated by untrained individuals without valid driving licenses.
This unchecked influx has made traffic congestion a daily crisis on major thoroughfares, including Kalibari Road, Sadhanar More, Fire Service More, Sadar, and Chandkathi Chowmatha. Pedestrians, students, and office-goers bear the brunt of the suffering.
Locals blame a lack of oversight by the municipality and traffic police, questioning how such a massive number of illegal vehicles can operate openly. Residents demand strict, continuous enforcement against unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles to restore order on the streets.
Jhalakathi Municipal Administrator Kawsar Hossain acknowledged the issue, noting that the number of illegal autorickshaws has surged due to a recent relaxation in enforcement drives. He stated that immediate steps will be taken to clear unregistered vehicles from the roads.
While authorities occasionally conduct drives to curb the chaos, locals dismiss these efforts as superficial, noting that the core traffic crisis remains entirely unresolved.
