Writ seeks preventive measures against frequent road crashes

Following recurring road accidents due to reckless driving and operation of unfit vehicles, a writ petition has been filed with the High Court, seeking urgent steps to save life of passengers.

Two students met with tragic end of their lives when a speedy bus ran over them in the city on Sunday.

So far, more than 2,000 people were killed in road crashes this year following death of over 7,000 people in such incidents in 2017, according to unofficial monitoring reports.

A Supreme Court lawyer, Tanvir Ahmed, on Monday filed, what is called public interest litigation (PIL).

“Accidents occur frequently due to unfit vehicles. Many people die across the country every day. I have filed the writ challenging the inaction of the authorities concerned,” Tanvir said.

He pointed out that looking glass, brake light and signal light of most of the vehicles are not in right shape.

Tanvir said the writ is also filed seeking directives to form an expert committee to survey fitness of vehicles and recommend measures.

A High Court bench comprising justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury and justice Md Ashraful Kamal may hear the case any time.

On Sunday (29 July), two students were crushed to death on the Airport Road near the Kurmitola flyover in the capital. They were victims of reckless driving, especially competition between two buses of Jabale Nur Paribahan.

The deceased, Abdul Karim, 17, and Dia Khanom Mim, 16, were class XII and XI students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment School and College.

On 1 July, Shahriar Sourav, 28, a former student of Jahangirnagar University, was killed in a road accident at the same spot. He fell down from his bike as a Bashumati Paribahan bus hit him. Another bus ran over him while he was trying to ride his bike again.

The following day, on 2 July, another university student, Syed Masud Rana, was killed in Mirpur as a Dishari Paribahan bus ran over him.

On 16 April, Titumir College student Rajib Hossain died after two weeks of fight for life in hospital. He lost his hand prior to his death in a race between two buses.

On 17 May, an online media official Nazimuddin was injured in a race between two buses at the Mayor Hanif flyover and he later succumbed to his injuries.