Syed Shemul Parvez :
Road accidents are on rise despite measures taken by the government to reduce the number of casualties. Nowadays roads have become the death trap for the passengers.
Experts say, the number of motorcycles is rising in the streets. It is mostly accountable for the sudden increase of accidents. According to some reliable sources, at least 5,300 people died in the road crash in last 80 days.
Though the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has given some guidelines to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMD) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to make it compulsory for both bus drivers and helpers to carry the pictures, licensees and mobile phone numbers.
In the meeting, more instructions were given to ensure that the buses must not be stopped except at the bus stand. Besides, all motorcycle users should bear maximum two persons and helmet is compulsory for every rider.
Dhaka Metropolitan Commissioner (DMC) Asaduzzaman Mia has told the media that police ordered the owners and drivers to ply buses with discipline, not to stop here and there and keep doors closed while driving buses. But these have not been implemented.
Ilias Kanchan, Founder and Chairman of Nischa said at a press conference, the growing number of motorcycles is mainly responsible for the sudden rise of accidents.
Ilias Kanchan also claimed that many underage bikers are careless on the road and drive the vehicles recklessly, often causing accidents after losing control. “That’s why the number of accidents is on the rise.
According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the number of motorcycles saw an approximately threefold increase — from 7 lakh to 22 lakh – in two years (2016 to 2018). The number of deaths in road crashes was 4,144 in 2016, 5,645 in 2017, and 3,414 in 2018 (until September), according to the survey.
Among the deaths in 2017, the survey said, 27 percent were caused by the motorcycle riders. Among the 15 deaths caused in road accidents in Dhaka city in the last two months, motorcycle riders contributed seven percent.
Questioning the seriousness of the government to stop disorder on the road, city expert professor Nazrul Islam said, the disorder on the road has aggravated. “The highest level of the government has to maintain political commitment to establish order on road,” he told it media.
Owners, drivers, commuters and officials concerned have to abide by the traffic law, he suggested.
Khandaker Enayet Ullah, General Secretary of Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association (DRTO) said tt would take time to implement the decision,” Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association General Secretary Khandaker Enayet Ullah told media.
