Staff Reporter :
Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has highlighted a worrying rise in road accidents, attributing the spike to reckless driving, motorcycles, and easy bikes.
Speaking to reporters after exchanging Eid greetings at the ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat, Quader expressed concern over the increasing frequency of motorbike-related incidents.
“Currently, road accidents are more prevalent, with motorbikes responsible for the highest number of accidents, followed by easy bikes,” Quader stated, referencing recent accident data.
The minister underscored the role of reckless driving in contributing to road mishaps.
He announced that the concerned secretary has been tasked with formulating a comprehensive policy to address the lack of regulation for the millions of three-wheelers and motorcycles that disrupt road order.
Quader also commented on the relative smoothness of the Eid journeys but emphasized the need to ensure the safety of return trips, which often receive less attention and are consequently more prone to accidents.
In a separate discussion, Quader responded to criticism from the BNP regarding the Rohingya issue. He clarified that no direct attacks on Bangladesh have been observed, attributing recent incidents to internal conflicts within Myanmar, involving various ethnic groups and rebel factions.
“Myanmar is facing internal conflicts involving several ethnic groups, and recent incidents are likely caused by rebel groups, not the Myanmar government,” Quader said. He reiterated the Awami League government’s commitment to resolving issues through dialogue rather than conflict.
He criticized the opposition’s characterization of government decisions as submissive, pointing out that the recent firing that reached St. Martin’s Island was executed by the Arakan Army rebels, not Myanmar’s government forces.
“Efforts are ongoing, and Bangladesh will continue to seek resolution through discussions, avoiding war.
Myanmar has internal crises with 54 ethnic groups. We are striving to solve it through discussions and will continue to do so, avoiding war,” Quader added.
Responding to a query about the economic impact of infrastructure projects, Quader shared that approximately Taka five crore was collected in a single day from tolls on the Padma Bridge, with an additional Taka four crore collected from the Bangabandhu Bridge.