We are deeply shocked and saddened at the tragic deaths of so many people in a fatal road accident at Chhatrakanda in Sadar upazila of Jhalakathi district. At least 17 people including seven children and five women were killed and 35 others injured when a bus plunged into a roadside pond near Union Parishad office around 9:55 am on Saturday.
The Barishal-bound bus from Bhandaria in Pirojpur district was carrying around 70 passengers. According to the passengers, bus driver was not driving properly and was repeatedly talking with the helper, conductor and passengers.
The moment the bus made a turn on the side of the road, the driver turned the steering to the right. The bus lost control and overturned in a pond on the side of the road.
Many passengers could not get out of the bus easily and drowned.
According to the police, there were no injury marks on the dead bodies in the “suratehal” report (inquest) and they died due to drowning. However, the driver, contractor and helpers managed to escape the scene.
Country’s most highways and roads have become death traps for the travelers with deadly accidents occurring almost on a regular basis. The trend in road crash death is becoming alarming across the country.
The
government and other stakeholders
must take necessary steps to
prevent
road crash
Reckless driving, poor traffic management, movement of unfit and slow pace vehicles on highways, semiskilled drivers and lack of their physical and mental fitness, undetermined working hours, lack of capability of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, lack of awareness on traffic rules, extortion in the transport sector are contributing to occur road accidents in the country. Therefore, whatever we do to stop the road crash, the fact is that there is no minimum improvement in the country’s road safety prospects till date.
We continue witnessing countless people dying on the roads and highways every day as there is almost no effective measure to prevent accidents. People do not want to hear the news of such tragic accidents every day. Such death is causing an irreparable loss to every family of the victims.
The government took several measures to enhance the vigilance on the roads and highways by utilising the modern information technology to prevent road accidents. We are holding discussions, seminars, workshops and symposium alongside observing national road safety day that how and in what way such deadly road accidents can be reduced. Besides, national dailies are running stories, editorials and columns in this regard. But road crash still remains as a reason for big worry. Therefore, the government and other stakeholders must take necessary steps to prevent road crash immediately.
