No accountability as road accidents continue

The students of the country took to the streets protesting against the death of two college students on 29 July. Following the unprecedented movement, it was said from the top quarter of the government, that the students had opened our eyes. A month has passed since the movement, but the deaths on road have not stopped.

Even during the movement, such fatal road accidents across the country continued. Deaths and injuries in road accidents before and after Eid-ul Azha seem to have increased. According to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (a non-government passenger welfare organisation), from 16 to 28 August, at least 259 people died and 960 persons were injured in 237 road accidents across the country. 

The losses of the road accidents cannot be measured by the number of deaths and injuries only. Each life is invaluable. And when anyone is maimed in an accident, he or she becomes a burden to the family.

The question is, does the government realise that the deaths and injuries caused by the road accidents have turned into a serious national problem? Is it being stressed that the culprits behind the road accidents must be legally tried and punished? The causes of the accidents have been identified. Experts have been talking about the issues for long, there are discussions in the media, there are numerous seminars and meetings too. But to no avail.

Last Friday in Dhaka, at a press conference held by the Jatri Kalyan Samity, the reasons of road accidents were elaborated. Unfit vehicles randomly running on the roads, reckless driving by the unskilled and unlicenced drivers and cargo vehicles being used to carry passengers have been identified as the principle reason for the accidents. It is not impossible to resolve these. The institutions concerned must carry out their duties properly. They must be accountable and punished for any negligence.

There are laws to imprison and fine anyone driving without licence. But thousands of persons driving without licences remain unpunished. The rampage by the reckless drivers continues due to this lack of trial and punishment.

Bulgaria sacked three of its ministers including its transport minister recently after mass agitation following the death of 17 passengers in a road accident. If such examples would be followed in our country, deaths on the roads could be abated.