Death of Notre Dame College student: Nine DSCC drivers suspended

Nine drivers of Dhaka South City Corporation's (DSCC) have been suspended in sequel to the death of the Notre Dame College student who was run over by a garbage truck in the city's Gulistan area.

Charges were brought against the drivers of engaging others to drive the vehicles allocated under them.

Moreover, transport superintendent Faruk Ahmed was terminated on charges of handing over one's vehicle to another.

According to the office of the secretary at DSCC, of the nine drivers, seven are the drivers of garbage trucks. The drivers are: Kawsar Ali, Belayet Hossain, Farid Ahmed, Md Abdullah, Jamal Uddin-2, Kabir Hossain-2 and Rabiul Alam.

Two others are the drivers of light vehicles. They are: Azim Uddin and Nur Jalal Shikder.

Secretary office sources, however, said the drivers were suspended on 8 December on charges of negligence, misconduct and inefficiency. However, the matter is kept secret.

DSCC public relations officer Md Abu Naser said he was not informed about the matter. "I am unable to say anything about it," he told Prothom Alo.

According to the office order signed by the secretary, the vehicles were allocated to DSCC designated drivers who illegally engaged others instead of driving themselves. As a result, accidents were occurring frequently, and human lives and properties were being lost.

The officials concerned became serious about the irregularities and corruption of the transport sector of DSCC after Notre Dame College Student Naim Hasan was run over by a garbage truck on 24 November. The mismanagement and irregularities surfaced in the investigation committee formed in connection with death of the student.

An outsider was driving the DSCC garbage truck which ran over Naim Hasan, a student of Notre Dame College. The vehicle was allocated to Iran Mia. The transport pool officials handed over the vehicle to outsider Haroon.

However, Haroon handed over the vehicle to another outsider named Rasel instead of driving himself.

Police said Rasel was in the steering of the garbage truck when it ran over Notre Dame College student.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, DSCC chief executive officer Farid Uddin Ahmed said they are working to wipe out perennial problems at the transport section. They have started strong monitoring, he added.