The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Cabinet Committee of the government has decided to buy 150 jeeps of the Pajero brand for an equal number of Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs). The Citizens Rights Movement (CRM) has opposed the decision. It is reported that the purchase would cost Tk 40 crore at the rate of near about Tk 27 lakh for each jeep. CRM is reported to have termed the said cars too much luxury in a country where '59 percent of the people are landless and most of their daily income is below one dollar.' They called upon the government to cancel the decision and, instead, asked for the purchase of 50 more Volvo double-decker buses to ease the transport problem in Dhaka City.

Pajeroes are not considered viable on the roads in rural areas of the country. Most of the kutcha roads are not suitable for their use. Metalled roads under the upazilas are not many. Moreover, they are neither wide enough nor properly maintained. Road conditions in the rural areas in the rainy season are unsuitable for smooth movement of motor cars. In most cases, the only roads suitable for Pajeroes are the ones that connect upazilas with the district headquarters where UNOs need to go from time to time. So, in view of the condition of roads in the upazilas, concerned people suggest the use of versatile, less expensive jeeps which can be used for both official purposes and as family cars by UNOs.

Again, Pajero brand vehicles generally are not maintainable everywhere in the country. Skilled mechanics and spare parts of Pajeroes are not available at upazila level. So, maintenance of such jeeps may prove to be very expensive and difficult. Such cars may soon be found to go out of order. Regarding fuel of the cars, CNG is now not available even at most of the district headquarters, not to mention about upazila towns. Use of octane to run such heavy vehicles will be costly and become an extra burden.

UNOs need the vehicles not for pleasure trips; they need those for easy and quick movement through both metalled and kutcha roads. UNOs are required to go to far-flung areas under their jurisdiction. They thus need vehicles for rough and tough driving. In the not too distant past, government officials used hardy vehicles like Willy jeeps. The choice of Pajeroes instead of such hardy vehicles is considered worthy of reconsideration by the government.