Unlawful strike causes public suffering
People have no choice but to travel by bus despite the risks involved. A medical student was crushed to death under by a van in Gazipur on Saturday, but people will still travel by bus. The authorities have no apologies for the victims. Leaders of transport organisations know that they will not be brought to book for deaths in road accidents. They can call unlawful strikes, claiming that the safety of their vehicles is at risk. They know that no legal action will be taken against them.
Everybody knows the transport sector is under the control of the government. A minister is controlling the sector. The bus services were suspended without any prior announcement. There is no doubt that the government is behind of it. It is being said that this strike has been enforced in retaliation of the students' demonstration for safe road following the death of two fellow students in road accidents on Airport Road. They are afraid of facing the students because many of their vehicles have no necessary documents. The sudden strike is not only unlawful, but also blatantly anti-people. They can face legal charges.
The five-point directive of prime minister Sheikh Hasina has not been implemented. Three ministers, who were assigned to implement these directives, did not bother to hold a meeting in a month. While the students of different schools and colleges continue agitation demanding safe roads, more 11 people have died in road accidents. In three and half years, some 25,000 people have died in road accidents. If steps are not taken immediately, roads across the country will remain as death traps for the people.
A section of transport owners and leaders have pledged that they will maintain disorder in the sector. They value a bus more than a human life. They do not care about so many deaths on the road. The steps the prime minister ordered to take a month ago already exist in the law. It is evident that there is none to enforce the law despite so many deaths on the road. Conscientious transport owners must come forward to earn the respect and trust of the people. It is high time.
It is unfortunate that the government has no concern over the enforcement of transport strike without prior notice. No legal steps have been taken against the unlawful strike. The sufferings of the people mount, but the government is indifferent. But the government is not considering the peaceful demonstration of the students positively. The government is using law enforcers and members of Bangladesh Chattra League to attack the children. The situation has now reached an unacceptable level. There is nothing illogical in the 9-point demand of the students. The government should make commitments and announce a time-bound action plan to meet the demands. We hope the government will act responsibly. We also want withdrawal of the trasnport strike immediately.