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Road accident fatalities continue unabated

No directives giving desired results


Bangladeshpost
Published : 20 Aug 2019 07:02 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 09:30 PM

It is alarming to note that at least 224 people have been killed in road accidents across the country between August 6 and August 17. Another 866 people have also been injured in 203 accidents recorded across the country.  Reportedly, most of the fatalities occurred when holidaymakers were travelling to their respective ancestral homes and returning to the capital prior to and after Eid-ul-Adha.

Scrutinizing the way road accident took place in Bangladesh during this Eid-ul-Adha, one can say that most of the road safety measures taken over the last couple of year have gone in vein. Every time the gravity of road safety issues gets intensified when any student dies of road accident. Protesters blocking roads and seeking the highest punishment of the perpetrators have become very common repercussions of any gruesome road accident. After every incident of road crash we hear pledges from the BRTA, police, and other transport authorities of taking effective measures. But all fade away within the circle of time which is why the procession of deaths on the roads never stops. 

Following the last year’s students movement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued a five-point directive in June to prevent road accidents. A special committee was formed too on 4 September to prevent road accidents and develop traffic systems. But most of the decisions and recommendations have not been materialised. Moreover, the act passed last year to ensure punishment of the law violators has rendered ineffective too due to the protests of the transport owners and workers.


Scrutinizing the way road accidents took

 place in Bangladesh during this Eid-ul-Adha, 

one can say that most of the road safety 

measures taken over the last 

couple of year have gone in vein


Road accidents are common phenomenon in every country around the world. What makes them different is that other countries punish the responsible ones, but the culprits are always at large here in Bangladesh. The Kolkata police too in India have arrested the driver of the vehicle that killed two Bangladeshis in Kolkata on Friday. Whom have the police detained so far here in connection with the road accidents during Eid that killed many people? Has any official of any organisation been brought to answer?

It is high time that Bangladesh takes stern actions against reckless driving. In order to ensure road safety for all, the design and quality of the roads and highways must be improved; unfit vehicles should not be allowed on the roads and there should be mass awareness on traffic rules. Also in order to maintain discipline on roads, the idea of Black Box can play an effective role. It will not cost more than Tk 10 thousand but will definitely help monitor vehicular speed and other movements. Also there is a need to set up an adequate number of CCTV cameras which will help in investigation of accidents in city streets.