THE unruly organised transport leaders asked the higher courts to review the recent orders on compensation packages for victims of the road accidents. The workers spearheaded by two former ministers of the government even time to time paralyze the country’s domestic road communications to accept their dishonest demands. Without meeting the minimum quality for plying vehicles, when drivers are seemingly free to kill passengers or pedestrians for their ignorance, the demand for negating compensation is demand for impunity. Over the years, the country’s roads have become virtually death traps due to over speed, unfit vehicles, technical faults, unskilled drivers and jaywalking.
The transport owners came up with the call amid a rise in road accidents for which errant drivers and owners of vehicles are often blamed. The country saw two major student agitations for safe road in the last nine months over deaths of students in road crashes in the capital. Former minister Shajahan Khan, a transport leader also, said Tk 4.61 crore-compensation has been slapped over Tareque Masud’s death, Tk 3.52 crore over journalist Mozammel Hossain Mantu’s death, Tk 1 crore over Rajib’s death, Tk 10 lakh over Abrar’s death and Tk 50 lakh over a road accident in which Russel Sarkar lost his leg. In a meeting, transport leaders said that the judges need to consider how a driver with a monthly income of Tk 10,000 would be able to pay a hefty compensation.
We think it will be proper to identify the responsibilities of the authorities concerned and direct them to implement the recommendations made for checking accident and bringing discipline on the roads. We also feel the government is bound to execute the court order according to the Constitution. A balanced but comprehensive policy is needed to enforce to bring discipline in roads and stopping accidents, which social and economic cost is high to address. The court should follow up the development of compensation disbursement and bound the administration to execute the orders thus the transport owners ensure discipline and the victims get due compensation.
The transport owners came up with the call amid a rise in road accidents for which errant drivers and owners of vehicles are often blamed. The country saw two major student agitations for safe road in the last nine months over deaths of students in road crashes in the capital. Former minister Shajahan Khan, a transport leader also, said Tk 4.61 crore-compensation has been slapped over Tareque Masud’s death, Tk 3.52 crore over journalist Mozammel Hossain Mantu’s death, Tk 1 crore over Rajib’s death, Tk 10 lakh over Abrar’s death and Tk 50 lakh over a road accident in which Russel Sarkar lost his leg. In a meeting, transport leaders said that the judges need to consider how a driver with a monthly income of Tk 10,000 would be able to pay a hefty compensation.
We think it will be proper to identify the responsibilities of the authorities concerned and direct them to implement the recommendations made for checking accident and bringing discipline on the roads. We also feel the government is bound to execute the court order according to the Constitution. A balanced but comprehensive policy is needed to enforce to bring discipline in roads and stopping accidents, which social and economic cost is high to address. The court should follow up the development of compensation disbursement and bound the administration to execute the orders thus the transport owners ensure discipline and the victims get due compensation.
