Motorcycle helicopter service gains popularity in southwest region

 Motorcycle helicopter is now one of the popular vehicles among the commuters in the southwestern part of Bangladesh, especially in the districts of Satkhira, Khulna and Jessore.

There is no important place in the region where a motorcycle helicopter is not found. It will be seen that dozens of motorcycle helicopters are waiting for passengers in the important places like bus stands, markets and crossings.

Name of motorcycle helicopter lies in to its name like a helicopter that goes round very fast and it is able to stay still in the air and move straight upwards or downwards easily, and in same way people of the remote areas of the region by motorcycle helicopter can travel easily from one place to another.

From the ancient period, many rivers and its tributaries flow through the southwestern region of Bangladesh. But, it unfortunate that most of the rivers of this region have been silted, destroying the traditional naval transportation system. To overcome the crisis, once bicycle helicopter service was an alternative to boats and other water vessels, and now motorcycle helicopter service has replaced the bicycle helicopter service.

Commuters in the region now choose riding on motorcycle helicopters to travel easily from one place to another in the remote areas. The past few years have witnessed a rise in motorcycle riding and as more and more youths have started preferring driving motorcycle as profession.
 

How it was named?
We know that a helicopter is an aircraft with long blades on top that go round very fast. It is able to stay still in the air and move straight upwards or downwards. Although the name of helicopter adds after motorcycle, it is not able to fly in the air. Motorcycle helicopter is only ridded on the ground. It can be here mentioned that the name of the motorcycle helicopter lies in the introduction of bicycle helicopter. Possibly bicycle helicopter service was introduced in the region in the year of 1968-1969. From that time most of the rivers of this area began to be silted and the traditional naval transportation system of the area began to face crisis and therefore bicycle helicopter service began to be alternative to boats and other water vessels. 

 

Previous bicycle helicopter service

The vehicle was originated to make transportation system easily in the remote areas where most the roads were unmetalled and impassable. The back carrier of a two-while bicycle is extended about one and half feet and it is covered with foam and other soft clothes so that passengers get comfortable sitting on the place. The front side rod of a bicycle is also covered with foam or soft clothes so that one can sit on the road. At least two passengers ride a bicycle helicopter at a time. Once, bicycle helicopter was one of the popular vehicles in the southwestern part of Bangladesh. It is not clearly unveiled how bicycle helicopter was named. But, it can be seemed the name of bicycle helicopter lies in to its name like a helicopter goes round very fast and it is able to stay still in the air and move straight upwards or downwards easily and in same way people of the remote areas of this region by bicycle helicopters could travel easily from one place to another on unmetalled and impassable roads.  About three decades the vehicle was very popular in the southwestern part. Once at least 10 thousand of people were engaged in the occupation of driving bicycle helicopter and dozens of bicycle helicopters were found in important places, markets and crossings.   Cycle helicopters are now not able to compete with other vehicles specially the motorcycle helicopters. It is very difficult to find out a single bicycle helicopter in an important place. Motorcycle helicopter service has replaced the previous bicycle service.
   

Motorcycle helicopter service
A motorcycle helicopter is just a motorcycle. There is no extra part. But, some motorcycles have extra foot stands so that passengers can sit comfortably and some have extra carriers for carrying goods of passengers. At least two passengers can ride a motorcycle helicopter sitting on its seat cover at a time.

If one goes to Satkhira, Jessore and Khulna districts, he or she will be able to see that there is no important place where a motorcycle is not found. Dozens of motorcycle helicopters are waiting for passengers in the important places like bus stands, markets and crossings.

Some of the places are Satkhira town, Kadamtala, Tala, Patkelghata, Shalikha Crossing, Budhata, Ashashuni, Parulia, Dopadanga Crossing, Debhata, Kaliganj and Shyamnagar of Satkhira district, Paikgacha, Boalia, Koira, Baka Bazar, Dumira, Kapilmuni and Chuknagar of Khulna and Keshabpur, Bhandarkhola, Monirumpur and Sagardari of Jessore district.

During visit to Satkhira and Tala it was seen that the drivers have formed separate associations in their respective areas in a bid to avoid any disorder and keep a sound discipline. In Satkhira town, it was seen that dozens of motorcycles are waiting for passengers in a queue beside the pond of Shaheed Razzak Park. The motorcycles are to take passengers serially and receive fixed rents set by their respective association. Talking to a driver, he said, “A single passenger is to pay Tk 60 for the destination of Kullarmore or Budhata and for double passengers they are to Tk 40 each”.

The same situation was seen on the foot of Tala Bridge where many motorcycles are waiting for passengers in a queue. One of the driver said, “A passenger is to pay Tk 65/70 to go to Shahpur Nirilibazar and for double passengers each will have to pay Tk 45/50”.

An Ataur Rahman said, “I prefer rented motorcycle to go to Tala Bazar from my village Hariharnagar under Khesra Union in a bid to save time. I am to spend about Tk 50/60 to rent a motorcycle, but I don’t mind for it as I can go to Tala within 15 minutes”.

Murshida Parvin, a NGO worker, said, “I always abandon buses and other vehicles like engine vans to beat huge gathering and other risks. Although I am to spend some extra money, it saves time and ensures comfortable traveling”.

“Earlier, I had to rely on vans to reach Tala upazila headquarters for official works from my home at Shahpur- a distance of about six kilometres that was taking me more than one and half hours. But, now I can go to Tala within 15 minutes,” said Manzuara Khatun, a school teacher.

Masum Billah, a businessman of Gazirhar under Debhata Upazila, said he preferred motorcycle, specially for his business purposes.

“By bus, it usually took me at least an hour to reach the Satkhita district town from my house. Now it takes me just 20 minutes to cover the same distance by motorcycle”, a Monaem of Gunarakati said.

 
Employment opportunity:   

 At present about three thousand of people are engaged in the occupation of driving motorcycle helicopter in the region.  Many educated youths are opting for driving motorcycles as profession due to the rise in travel by motorcycle.
Khalid Hossain Gama, a motorcycle helicopter driver, said, “Every day, I can earn about Tk 400/500, of which Tk 100/150 are spent for energy and maintenance purposes”.

Lithu, another driver, said, “I brought a second-hand motorcycle at Tk 40,000 and now I maintain the family by driving the motorcycle”.

Talking to risingbd many drivers alleged that they had to face harassment by policemen on different roads. The drivers also sought cooperation from all especially from the administration so that they can take the driving as profession side-by-side serving the commuters with comfortable and time-saving journey.

The motorcycling revolution is also creating a scope for good business and employment opportunity in the region. Many showrooms for motorcycles and its accessories have been opened in the region side-by-side small shops and service centres at crossings and important places.

Sumon Mia, in-charge of Satkhira Walton Plaza, told risingbd that the companies should give an attention to manufacture special models of motorcycles keeping the local environment and business situation in mind.

Finally, it can be said motorcycle service not only ensures comfortable and time-saving journey but also gives its passengers to take ample opportunities to explore the regions hidden due to inaccessibility through the roads.

risingbd/June 25, 2014/mukul