There has been an alarming rise in the number of road accidents across the country. Road crashes and fatalities have seen a year-on-year increase of more than 10 percent in the first nine months of the year.
According to BRTA (Bangladesh Road Transport Authority) data, at least 4,153 people were killed in 4,494 road crashes that occurred nationwide between January and September. During the same period last year, 4,016 people were killed in 3,727 mishaps.
However, the Road Safety Foundation, a non-government organisation, put the fatalities at 5,598 in 5,485 road crashes in the same period. On the other hand, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity recorded 4,745 deaths in 4,620 road crashes during the period.
Against this backdrop, Bangladesh observed the National Road Safety Day on Tuesday (October 22) with the slogan “Chhatra Janatar Ongikar, Nirapad Sarak Hok Sobar” (Safe Road for All is the Pledge of the Students and the People).
Experts attributed this to the anarchy and indiscipline that developed in the road transport sector during the last more than 15 years’ misrule of the deposed Awami League government.
Then the influential leaders of transport associations, in collusion with police and ruling party leaders allegedly created a vicious circle for their own benefit. After the political changeover on 5 August, a big opportunity arose to address the situation, but the interim government is yet to make any major move in this regard.
Reportedly, the nexus allowed a huge number of illegal and sub-standard vehicles, including battery-run three-wheelers, to operate on roads. It also allowed unlicensed and unskilled drivers to operate vehicles, seriously compromising road safety.
Besides, experts further alleged that the deposed government helped the number of motorcycles grow manifold, which has contributed to the rise in road crashes and deaths. Without a strong political commitment breaking out of this vicious cycle that developed during the deposed Awami League government is very difficult.
Hardly a day passes without the painful news of death in road accidents. And it seems that we are helpless to do anything to redress the horrendous situation. It is time for the interim government to act, and not simply look away as more and more innocent lives continue to be lost on our dangerous roads and highways. We, as citizens, also have a responsibility to ensure road safety by following traffic rules.