Dhaka-Mawa Expressway turns accident prone
Syed Shemul Parvez :
The frequent accident on the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Highway (Dhaka-Mawa Expressway) is worrying the concerned.
The state-of-the-art high-definition highway with uninterrupted traffic is becoming increasingly dangerous due to the reckless activities of its users and drivers alike.
Transport experts say that it needs to be pulled immediately.
It is totally inappropriate to stop the car on the expressway and pick up or drop passengers here and there. It is a regular image at the Jazira part of Padma Bridge. There is also an evil competition to pick up passengers.
Locals said that when the passengers do not get the car down, everyone comes up. Speeding vehicles are passing but no one is paying attention.
Motorcycles are also responsible for most of the accidents on these expressway- highways.
At least 240 accidents have occurred on this road from June last year to March this year after Padma bridge was opened for traffic. About 280 people died in these incidents. Small and big accidents are occurring often in these expressways.
Recently a terrible road crash occurred in the Dhaka-Mawa expressway which shocked the whole nation just ahead of the Eid vacation.
The death toll from that incident was raised to eight. A passenger of the bus named Sumon claimed that the driver of the bus violated the speed limit that led to the accident.
The accident happened when a bus of Shariatpur bound Padma Travels hit a truck, which was out of service, from behind on the expressway at about 8:45am in the morning.
Locals said, who will go before whom and over speed up to 120 is noticed on this road. When they see the police, the drivers slow down, and after passing police they speed up again.
The investigation into the bus accident of Imad Paribahan revealed several reasons. Drivers drive long hours without rest.
They are also talking on the phone in the unobstructed road. The fact is, even though it is a high definition road, some curves have already been identified as most dangerous.
The vehicle lost control during the ups and downs on some bridges and culverts. Sources said about 95 percent of vehicles on this route do not even have route permits.
Transport expert Professor Dr. Samsul Haque said, “The backbone has been created but the steps are going on to destroy the capacity by driving more vehicles. So there is no exemption from the accidents.”
Experts say that the safety of passengers on this road will be difficult if the violence of unlicensed unskilled drivers, unfit and illegal vehicles is not reduced. Although the Expressway is a hopeful road, accidents are happening here.
The only reason is that quality drivers are not produced in the country. Also some defects still remain in this expressway. Correcting these only can stop the march of death on this modern highway.
According to BRTA, motorcycles are also responsible for most of the accidents on highways across the country.
Considering this awful situation, the government banned this vehicle on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway and Padma bridge last year.
However, the government again allowed motorcycles to cross Padma Bridge from the April, ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
