‘No helmet, no fuel’ for Bangladesh bikers

Dhaka : Motorcyclists without helmets have been barred from buying fuel in Dhaka, in an attempt to quell tensions after major protests for better road safety in the Bangladeshi capital last month. Tuseday’s announcement by Dhaka police came after tens of thousands of teenage protesters and students gridlocked Dhaka for nine days in late July and early August, in a major challenge to the authority of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.

“The (owners of) petrol pumps have already been told not to sell fuel to any motor bikers without helmets,” said Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia. He said bikers carrying more than one other person -- a common sight -- would also face punishment, and the one pillion passenger which is permitted must also wear a helmet. Like elsewhere in Asia, the highly congested, polluted and chaotic city of almost 20 million people has seen an explosion in two-wheeled traffic in recent years.

Although Bangladeshi roads are among the deadliest in the region -- around 12,000 people perish in accidents every year, according to a private monitoring group, or more than 30 per day -- many bikers wear no helmet. The protests, which saw vehicles vandalised and thugs loyal to the government attack demonstrators, photographers and even the US ambassador’s car, began after a speeding bus killed two teenagers.