According to data from BUET’s Road Accident Research Institute, 43 percent of the country’s road accidents occur on national highways. The total area of this road is about four thousand kilometers. The road has been developed. However, it can be seen that the highways have become high and low (rutting) in some places and are full of potholes.
Experts say that road accidents can happen due to the vehicle, driver or other factors. However, frequent bends, potholes, construction defects and lack of proper signage on the highway are also considered to be among the causes of accidents.
However, about 30 thousand crores of rupees are spent annually on the development, repair and maintenance of roads. Repairs that are made, in many cases, do not last long. There are complaints that the construction work is of poor quality.
Unfit vehicles, unlicensed drivers, potholes on the roads, tired driving, illegal vehicles – the common man has to pay for the accidents that happen due to these reasons. No one can mourn the loss of a relative, some lose an earning member of the family and face financial crisis.
For example, Rakib Hossain, working as a ‘liftman’ in the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, his mother, two children and his wife were killed in the Faridpur accident. Their joint family of 12 members is not only grieving the loss of five relatives but also facing financial crisis.
Rakib’s brother. Farid Hossain Prothom-aloK said, ‘Our joint family basically ran on my and Rakib’s salary. But since Rakib left, I am in financial crisis. I don’t know how the coming days will pass.’
