THE New Nation in a report yesterday said that at least 18 people, including a UP Chairman, were killed and 100 others seriously injured in separate road accidents across the country on Thursday. Of them, about 11 persons died and 20 others received injuries following collision between a bus and an auto-rickshaw on the Dhaka-Khulna highway at Haridashpur in Gopalganj. Besides, four persons were killed and several others injured in Bagerhat on the day.
Despite taking several protective measures by the authorities concerned, the accidents remained unabated on roads and highways across the country. We’ve penned down the issue for several times urging the authorities to stop procession of death on roads. But lives are being lost one after another in accidents without any interval. We see, drivers and faulty vehicles are responsible for accidents in most cases. Many accidents would not have occurred, if the drivers are trained and licensed.
The scenario was almost all the same last year when about 500 people on an average were killed in every month. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and police had blamed drivers for 90 per cent of the accidents. They said the drivers go wild to compete with each other to get more passengers. But putting the blame on the passengers, the drivers claimed that the passengers constantly hassle them to drive fast for which they can’t focus on the road.
In fact, there is no discipline in the transportation sector. Sometimes the drivers are arrested but get bail using loopholes of the law. It is too hard to take any legal action against them due to severe pressure from their unions led by two influential Ministers. The syndicated transport business getting alleged protection from law enforcement agencies has become so powerful that they often challenge the administration too. The passengers are now apparently hostages of the transport sector.
We must say, changes have to be brought in the road management system without any delay. The Road Transport Ministry along with BRTA, police, transport owners and workers’ leaders has to jointly address the issue. The existing law should be applied duly against the lawbreakers.
Despite taking several protective measures by the authorities concerned, the accidents remained unabated on roads and highways across the country. We’ve penned down the issue for several times urging the authorities to stop procession of death on roads. But lives are being lost one after another in accidents without any interval. We see, drivers and faulty vehicles are responsible for accidents in most cases. Many accidents would not have occurred, if the drivers are trained and licensed.
The scenario was almost all the same last year when about 500 people on an average were killed in every month. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and police had blamed drivers for 90 per cent of the accidents. They said the drivers go wild to compete with each other to get more passengers. But putting the blame on the passengers, the drivers claimed that the passengers constantly hassle them to drive fast for which they can’t focus on the road.
In fact, there is no discipline in the transportation sector. Sometimes the drivers are arrested but get bail using loopholes of the law. It is too hard to take any legal action against them due to severe pressure from their unions led by two influential Ministers. The syndicated transport business getting alleged protection from law enforcement agencies has become so powerful that they often challenge the administration too. The passengers are now apparently hostages of the transport sector.
We must say, changes have to be brought in the road management system without any delay. The Road Transport Ministry along with BRTA, police, transport owners and workers’ leaders has to jointly address the issue. The existing law should be applied duly against the lawbreakers.
