Ensure road safety at any cost

Students from schools and colleges are staging demonstration protesting against deaths of two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College on Airport Road in the capital. They placed a nine-point demand. The movement of them spread out across the country. 

Road accidents and causality take place in the country everyday. Demonstration also takes place following the accidents more or less. But, after the incident of July 29, the students of schools and colleges take to street which is unprecedented.

The Prime Minister took strict position against the anarchy in transport sector. On July 31, in a meeting at Prime Minister's office, a direction was given to catch under aged and illegal vehicle drivers following the mismanagement in Dhaka Metropolitan's public transport.

Police and road transport authority was directed to remain alert so that no vehicles can ply roads without license. But, the students did not leave road. Basically, the tolerance of people has been broke down following deaths on roads due to reckless driving. Demands were raised against irregularities and chaos. But, there was no fruitful result. As a result, the classmates and other students got blown up after the death of Dia Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib.

According to media reports, the drivers of two buses of Jabale Nur had no license. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) already has cancelled the registration of the transport. Besides, the fitness certificates of the buses were expired on May 18, 2016. The route permit was ended on May 19, 2017. And Tax Token date was expired in May this year. That means the bus was plying roads without fitness certificate, tax token and route permit. 

Actually, the scenario of other transports in the capital is almost same. It has become tough to bring discipline in transport sector. Drivers don't care about the rules and regulations. Threat to shut down all transport comes if any legal action is taken. They make hostage the passengers. Extreme anarchy is underway in name of sitting service. But, how many lives will be lost in this way! We don’t want such deaths on roads. Discipline should be brought in roads at any cost. We expect the government will take quick steps in this regard. Steps should be taken to ensure training and license. So that, no drives can bring their vehicles on roads without fitness.

The High Court has directed authorities concerned of the government to form a 15-member national neutral expert committee to conduct a survey on the internal and external fitness of vehicles. The court also directed the committee to submit the survey report of within three months. We hope that direction will be implemented soon.

Besides, the cabinet approved in principle the draft of the Road Transport Act and made some observations in March last year. The ministry of law approved the law after one and half year tests. The draft is being sent to Road Transport Ministry. After the cabinet approves the bill, it will be placed before parliament for vetting. Then the bill will be enacted as law. We expect the concerned authority will take proper action to ensure road safety implementing the law quickly.


risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 2, 2018/Ali Nowsher/Nasim