Bus driver's negligence shatters dreams of eight families
Negligence and inefficiency of a driver and an unfit vehicle have shattered the dreams of eight families and left 25 other families in total disarray.
Seven students and two guardians were killed and over 30 students injured in a road accident at Bandarban on February 12 when a picnic bus of Economics Department of Chittagong College. The bus skidded off the road and fell into a 500-feet deep ditch at Kasaipara in the district. Most of the dead or injured were the 3rd year students of the department.
The victims' families demanded the government take strict measures to prevent such accidents again.
“It was nothing but negligence and inefficiency of the bus driver occurred the accident, alleged Ratan Kanti Mallik, father of the victim Papri Mallik. He said the buses hired for the trip usually ply another route and the drivers are not familiar with the zigzag roads of the hilly district.
Chittagong College Principal Prof Abu Jafar Chowdhury said the five buses hired for the picnic usually ply Chittagong-Cox's Bazar route.
Dipankar Mutsuddy, a guardian, said government should take measures such as constructing safety walls at the risky spots on the roads in three hilly districts to avoid such accidents.
Ratan was talking to this correspondent on the college campus the following afternoon immediately after the body of his daughter was brought from Bandarban Hospital.
He said the accident has shattered our long cherished dream of seeing our daughter is an MA in a moment.
The family of Santa Chakrabarty, another victim, remained overwhelmed in grief. Santa always thought of doing something to help her father, a staff of Bangladesh Railway and the lone earner of a six-member family.
Of four daughters, Shanta was the elder one who dreamt of becoming a teacher, who was qualified in the recently held Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Test, said her father in a choking voice at his residence at Ambagan Railway Colony.
Chandan Barua, father of Kapil Barua Sunny, has become ill losing his only child. Sunny was a performer of a local band group Tirondaj and was liked by all of his friends for his jolly nature.
Sahed, Anik, Nipun and Rubel, friends of Sunny, said they were together on the previous night and performed at a function in the city. It is unbelievable that Sunny is no more, they said.
The injured will also have to bear the injuries and the shocking memory for long.
At least 25 students have been admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with injuries after the accident. Of them, six are undergoing treatment at the Neuro Surgery ward, six at orthopaedics ward, six at casualty ward and one at Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while others were given first aid.
A few students are also undergoing treatment at different private clinics in the port city.
Condition of 3rd year students Rashed and Tuhin at CMCH is still critical. Rashed who could not regain his sense after a major operation until Monday is under close observation at neuro surgery ward. His mother Manjula Begum is anxiously waiting for her son's recovery.
Tuhin got one of his legs broken in the accident but doctors could not go through operation as he was in comma at the ICU.
Lying on a bed at the neuro surgery ward, Amzad Hossain Sujan said he cannot not raise legs since he feels no sense in lower portion of his body.
Dr Joydip at the ward said Sujan got hurt in his spinal cord. His uncle Helal Uddin said better treatment is needed for the recovery Sujan.
Afsana Jannat, undergoing treatment at CMCH casualty ward, said their bus stopped while ascending a hilly road and was coming down back dangerously. The driver tried to stop the bus from going down but failed, she added.
“I might be recovered from the injuries in a few weeks but it is difficult for me to forget the shocking memory of the accident,” Afsana said.
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