Eid-ul-Fitr and Bengali New Year were a relatively long holiday this time. And if he gets such a leave, he wants to miss the opportunity to go to the village home? Road accidents are one of our worries around this Eid festival. Different festivals are celebrated in every town of the world. But there is probably no other example of such a large number of people being killed in a road accident without any kind of vandalism or disaster except Bangladesh.
I am thinking and writing about this while returning to the city after the Eid holiday. High speed of the car, Overtaking, The fear of death peeks into the subconscious mind by seeing a jerk or a hard break. thinking, The road that I am writing from the desire of a safe road will allow me to return safely? Let’s, Since you are reading this, it means that I was finally able to return safely. But some were not so lucky. Like every year, this year’s Eid Yatra also has news of road accidents in the media every day.
last tuesday (April 16) Fourteen people were killed in a collision between a bus and a pickup van at Kanaipur in Faridpur. Wednesday on the other hand (April 17) 14 occupants of various vehicles standing in front were killed when a truck carrying cement lost control at the toll plaza of Gabkhan Setu in Jhalkathi. The news of the death of 12 people during the Eid holiday in Chittagong has come in different media.
Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association says, 260 people died in 281 road accidents across the country in 11 days from the start of the Eid journey on April 4 to April 14. In the four days of Eid, 1,295 people were injured in road accidents at the National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (Crippled Hospital) Received treatment. 212 of them in motorcycle accidents. However, not all accidents are reported in the media. The actual number of casualties could be higher. According to the statistics of the Passenger Welfare Association, In the eight years from 2016 to 2023, a total of 60,876 people died in road accidents. During this time, 4 thousand 475 people died in 3 thousand 862 accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. That means 7 in road accidents only during the Eid season.35 percent of people died.
Bangladesh’s road communication system has made remarkable progress since independence. And the number of new roads constructed and renovated during the current government has surpassed all previous records. In 1971 only 3,600 km of road in Bangladesh is currently 3,75,There are 1000 km of roads. Among them, 22 nationally and regionally,000 km of highways. About 3,000 members of 73 units of the Highway Police work under control. Already the two-lane highway has been converted into four lanes and the four lanes are to be converted into eight lanes. On the other hand, The ‘Road Transport Act’ resulted from the students’ safe road movement, 2018′ has been formulated. So much infrastructure development, Despite the deployment of manpower and reform of transport laws, road discipline remains lacking. Which is evident in the Eid trip.
During this time, accidents have increased several times, which can be seen in the analysis, That’s it, Vehicles without fitness, broken road, incompetent driver, Corruption, Lack of traffic control, Unpaved road, Reckless speed, Motorcycle on the highway, Three wheeler movement etc. Unfit vehicles and incompetent drivers are put on the road due to the multifold increase in passengers compared to the transport and the greed of the transport owner. Negligence and corruption of those in charge of road control are obstacles to road order. Even urban city buses unaccustomed to highways create stress on the roads. And trying to reach the destination at a non-stop and reckless speed in the hope of getting more trips is also one of the causes of accidents.
On the other hand, Ignorant passengers live without thinking about safety, There is a very old practice of traveling on the roof of trains and launches. And there is a lack of proper state oversight. However, these have become one of the main causes of countless motorcycle road accidents in recent times. Recently about one of the road accidents–A third occurs on motorcycles.
Going home by motorcycle on the highway to avoid traffic jams, The reckless speed of flighty youth, The number of casualties in motorcycle accidents is increasing mainly due to not wearing safety equipment. This Eid was no exception. Bangladesh University of Engineering (Buet) Road and Accident Research Institute (ARI) According to the information, Bangladesh ranks at the top in motorcycle accidents among Asian countries. Out of every 10,000 motorcycles, 28.4 are victims of accidents in Bangladesh. 74 percent of these accidents happen in Mofswal. This is because there is lack of traffic control. Research shows, 88 percent of motorcycle accident victims died due to not wearing a helmet and 12 percent due to wearing a defective helmet.
Who is responsible for turning the joy of the holiday into sadness?? The answer is already clear. being told, Smart Bangladesh after realizing the dream of Digital Bangladesh–The country is on its way. And unsafe roads are incompatible in such a country. Infrastructural development in the country, Education rate and Govt–Skilled manpower has increased in the private sector. So I don’t see any reason not to get out of this controllable curse like road accidents.
Fitness as the first step to the solution, All vehicles without documents and driving license should be banned. The main role of which has to be played by the administration. In addition, it is important to avoid the excessive profit mentality of the owners and the awareness of the passengers.
Secondly, The government should take steps to expand the rail network. Passengers increase several times during Eid compared to normal time, There is not enough transport in the country to handle the pressure. So all districts–By bringing the upazila under the rail network, Accidents can be avoided by reducing the pressure on the roads by increasing the number of railway lines and coaches.
Moreover, Motorcycle on the highway, easybike, Small vehicles like CNG autorickshaws should be completely banned and properly monitored. But since motorcycles are one of the main problems, So the college to make these budding young bikers aware, Special awareness programs can be undertaken involving the university and parents. Also import of extra CC motorcycles should be banned. And road repair, expansion, There is no alternative to gradually increasing the highways from four lanes to eight lanes. In addition to these, the need of the hour is to develop a smart traffic system with skilled manpower through the use of information technology. In this system, the traffic system will be made more dynamic and coordinated by introducing vehicle movement monitoring and automatic signal system through sophisticated cameras. And the driver–Helpers should be given regular training.
At last it can be said, Transport drivers who want to ensure safe roads throughout the year including Eid, assistant, the owner, passenger, The highway police and of course the government should come forward. Although everyone has responsibility here, the state has to play the main role. Others may be unaware or careless, Only at that place can the state keep everyone on the right path. Improved roads, Modern law, Adequate manpower, We have advanced technology and educated people. The only thing that is lacking is the mindset to follow the proper rules. Along with this is the poison of the society corruption. At last it can be said, Law-abiding mentality and anti-corruption stance of all concerned parties can provide smart and safe roads.
the writer: Acting Head of Department, Department of Journalism and Media Studies,
BGC Trust University Bangladesh.
Tags: responsible joy holiday turned sadness
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