Md. Masud Khan, Munshiganj

At the Gazaria police station premises in Munshiganj, nearly fifty vehicles, including private cars and trucks, have been lying abandoned under the open sky for an extended period.

These vehicles, worth several crores of taka, have rusted due to exposure to sunlight, rain, storms, and dust. Most of these vehicles have become unserviceable due to prolonged neglect. Among them, private cars are the most numerous. Many of these vehicles were seized as evidence in various criminal cases, while others include stolen or undocumented vehicles. Due to the lack of proper maintenance, the evidence required for court cases is deteriorating.

Many owners have been unable to reclaim their vehicles due to legal complications. Additionally, delays in auctioning these vehicles are causing the government to lose revenue. A visit to the site revealed that the seized vehicles and case-related evidence were scattered under the open sky at the police station premises.

These include two-wheelers, pickup vans, trucks, private cars, and even engine-powered boats. However, no storage arrangements have been made, leaving the vehicles abandoned and unprotected. Layers of dust make it difficult to distinguish which vehicles are functional and which are not. Some vehicles have deteriorated to the extent that only their chassis remain.

A local government official, requesting anonymity, said, "If these seized vehicles were kept in a sheltered area instead of being left in an open, abandoned spot, they would remain intact for a longer period. Unfortunately, no initiative has been taken to preserve these vehicles. If the evidence (vehicles) cannot be presented in court, real offenders might go free."

In this regard, SI Kamrul Islam, the officer in charge of the police station's storeroom, stated, "Due to delays in judicial proceedings, these seized vehicles cannot be auctioned or handed over to their owners. There are also no proper facilities for their maintenance, which is why some vehicles are deteriorating after being left unused for so long."

Gazaria Police Station OC Anwar Alam Azad added, "These vehicles were seized in connection with various cases and incidents. Most cases are still awaiting resolution. However, measures will be taken soon to address the situation.