Miserable condition of workers and disorderly road transport sector
Media on Sunday reported that at least 211 people were killed in road accidents across the country in one month of the ongoing shutdown enforced to contain the spread of coronavirus. Quoting Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passenger welfare platform, it was reported that despite a nationwide shutdown since March 26, at least 211 people have been killed and 227 injured in 201 road accidents in the first month of the closure. At the same time, eight people were killed, two injured and two others went missing in eight accidents on waterways of the country. The organisation in its observation said: “General closure or lockdowns can’t seem to be able to stop road accidents.” We also think there is no way to stop series of fatal accidents on the roads when nobody pays heed over following any rules and regulations. One thing is clear — fatal road accidents are still taking place frequently due to a sharp fall in the number of applications for fresh and updated driving licences this year.
At least 4,138 people were killed and 4,411 injured in 4,147 accidents in 2019, according to police. This rising trend of accidents is not yet stopped. The authorities concerned in November last year announced special opportunities for vehicle drivers for the next seven months to renew their licences or obtain new licences on easy conditions after the Road Transport Act 2018 was relaxed. The drivers, like previous days, showed extreme reluctant mood this time too to take new or proper updated licences. Another big reason for so many fatal accidents, that is – lack implementation of shutdown rules by the law enforcing members. Even in the city areas, we’ve seen that people are coming out with their private vehicles defying closures for trifling reasons. Millions of transport workers are now jobless. Many of them have no money to buy food and other essentials.
No transport organisation, owners’ or workers’, hasn’t taken any initiative to save the poor workers though crores of taka donation had collected under their banners from vehicles every month.
At least 4,138 people were killed and 4,411 injured in 4,147 accidents in 2019, according to police. This rising trend of accidents is not yet stopped. The authorities concerned in November last year announced special opportunities for vehicle drivers for the next seven months to renew their licences or obtain new licences on easy conditions after the Road Transport Act 2018 was relaxed. The drivers, like previous days, showed extreme reluctant mood this time too to take new or proper updated licences. Another big reason for so many fatal accidents, that is – lack implementation of shutdown rules by the law enforcing members. Even in the city areas, we’ve seen that people are coming out with their private vehicles defying closures for trifling reasons. Millions of transport workers are now jobless. Many of them have no money to buy food and other essentials.
No transport organisation, owners’ or workers’, hasn’t taken any initiative to save the poor workers though crores of taka donation had collected under their banners from vehicles every month.
