The New Nation - Internet Edition

Taxi cab/CNG scooter drivers continue to undermine, dishonour and defy government orders and instruction unabated.

Whenever approached by any member of the public/passenger for going on hire from one place to another, any destrination near, middle or long distance many unscrupulous taxi/scooter drivers come out with peculiar, amazing and objectionable statement, pretense, pretext, arguments and lies and they become aggressive and flatly refuse the member of the public/passenger to go on hire and on meter fare.

This results in wastage of time, energy and money and the sufferings of the member of the public/passenger know no bounds.

Bad habits die hard. How can we take care of, handle, rectify and tame the crude and unscrupulous taxi/scooter drivers ?

We suggest the following measures :-

1. We need a close and friendly relation, coordination, help and cooperation among the members of public/passengers, traffic police sergents and police constables patrolling the roads and streets.

2. Before approaching any taxi/scooter driver for hire of the vehicle the concerned member of the public/passenger may note down the vehicle number first If the traxi/scooter driver behaves well it is good. If not, the passenger may make a verbal complaint to his/her nearest available traffic police sergent or police constable.

3. The traffic police sergent or the police constable may give on the spot order to the taxi/ scooter driver to go with the passenger, if not, the traffic sergent/police constable may seize the driving licence of the taxi/scooter driver.

4. If necessary the traffic police sergent or the police constable may write down the name and address of the driver, or the vehicle number and refer the complaint/mater to the Headquarters D.M.P. for disciplinary action. A small chit/receipt of the complaint/mater may be handed over to the concerned passenger.

5. For security, safety and various other reasons the taxi/scooter drivers should always display the vehicle number and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle in a metal plate inside the vehicle permanently fixed in front of the seat of the passengers.

6. Would the I.G.P, D.M. P., traffic sergents and police constables and the members of the public/passengers kindly consider and implement the above suggestions in the interest of public service ?

O. H. Kabir

Dhaka

A retired justice of Bangladesh Supreme Court wrote an article titled 'Islam and Sharia' in a Bengali daily on Sunday. The sum and substance thereof is that the Quran is not a book of law. It is a book of advice, light and counsel. We too agree with this view, however, some reservations.

In this regard we like to write that the word 'Sharia' means 'rulings' of the judge in accordance with the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet There is no doubt that the Quran is not purely a book of law, but it is guidance for mankind, clear proofs of guidance and distinction between right and wrong- (2/185). The mater does not end here because the Quran is binding on every human being- (Ref: 28/85).

Hazrat Muaz bin Jabal (RA) paid a visit to the house of the Prophet Muhammad (SM) before his departure for Yemen to take over his new assignment of governor of Yemen. The Prophet asked, "On what basis shalt thou govern the province?" Muaz replied, "According to the provisions in the Quran." "And if thou find not related provision therein? Asked the Prophet He said, "In accordance with the traditions of the Messenger of God." "And if thou find not solution even therein? Asked the Prophet Muaz said, "Then I shall exercise my wisdom."

Hearing it the Prophet pated the back of Muaz bib Jabal and said, "Let it be the model of administration of all the rulers of the world." The lesson of the story is that Islam believes in dynamic, and not dogmatism. Surely the Quran is a book to be obeyed by every human being.

Islam is not the religion of several worships. It has its own socio-economic and political structure. It has touched every faculty of human life and set example as to how to administer. Imam Malek said that the Caliph could take any decision for the welfare of the society.

We read in verse no. 22/27 that the people will go to Mecca to perform pilgrimage riding on foot and lean camel. Explicitly man will either walk to Mecca or riding on camel whereas foot and camel implicitly refers to every kind of transport This is Islam.

The Prophet said, "The heart without the teachings of the Quran is an empty house," while Imam Ghazzali said that the learning of the Quran depends on the purity of the heart of a man.

Rozario

Pabna