The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will take legal action against any vehicle found emitting black smoke on the streets of the capital.

Alongside conducting regular operations against vehicles emitting black smoke, these drives have been further intensified. In line with this, the DMP Traffic Division filed 915 cases against black smoke-emitting vehicles in July alone.

Speaking at his office, DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Anisur Rahman said that vehicles emitting black smoke are frequently plying the capital's roads. However, ensuring vehicle quality or fitness does not fall under the responsibilities of the traffic police; traffic police primarily take legal action when laws are violated. Vehicles obtain fitness certificates from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) every year. Generally, engines emit black smoke when they develop problems, and engines can also be damaged quickly if fuel quality is poor.

He stated that various discussions take place on this issue at different times. Traffic police are regularly filing cases against black smoke-emitting vehicles. While statistics can be provided, merely publishing statistics will not solve the problem.

The DMP Additional Commissioner noted that black smoke harms public health alongside the environment, with traffic police being the biggest victims. Because they have to remain on the streets for long hours to perform their duties, they are engulfed in black smoke all the time. This causes eye irritation, and the smoke can enter the lungs through breathing, causing various harms. Ordinary citizens can leave after being on the street for a short while, but traffic police do not have that opportunity while on duty, forcing them to work amidst black smoke for extended periods.

He further mentioned that regular cases are being filed against black smoke-emitting vehicles, but there are many such vehicles that, despite being fined multiple times, are not properly maintained. A meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office regarding this matter in July. When these issues were raised there, the reality of the problems emerged in the discussions. Since then, operations against black smoke-emitting vehicles have been intensified further.

Anisur Rahman said that 915 cases were filed against black smoke-emitting vehicles in July, the majority of which were buses and covered vans. No separate equipment is needed in the country to identify vehicles emitting black smoke, as vehicles emitting excessive black smoke are easily visible to the naked eye, and the visual condition is often extremely alarming. Consequently, legal action is taken under the Road Transport Act based on visual observation of smoke from these vehicles.

He stated that the traffic police work in coordination with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the Department of Environment, conducting joint checkposts at various times. However, when checkposts are set up, vehicles emitting black smoke often hide in various places instead of operating on the roads, and resume movement once the checkposts are removed.

He added that the police do not have sufficient capacity to operate checkposts daily or file cases against every single vehicle. Nevertheless, regular drives are conducted to control black smoke. If a vehicle is seen emitting black smoke again after a case has already been filed against it, double the fine is imposed for the same offense.

When asked whether the problem can be solved solely through cases and fines, he replied, "Not at all. Everyone must ensure their respective responsibilities. When we sit with owners, they highlight various limitations. When we sit with workers, they raise different issues. We all speak from our respective viewpoints, but the fact is true and visible, and there is no way to deny it."

Responding to a question about actions being taken against excessive noise, faulty engines, or low-quality fuel alongside black smoke, he said that numerous cases were filed for noise pollution last month.

"We have declared silent zones and put up signboards, but no one reads those signboards. No one checks where a silent zone begins or ends. People keep honking continuously. If you want to file a case for this, proof is required."

Anisur Rahman stated that to solve this, advanced nations use a technology called "Horn-P," which indicates which vehicle committed the violation.

"We are trying to see if we can use that technology. We might start it as a pilot project, but these technologies are a bit expensive, and we need to build the physical infrastructure for them. Budget is also a factor."