Catherine Masud urges chief justice to expedite trials
Catherine Masud, widow of renowned filmmaker Tareque Masud, yesterday urged the chief justice to take measures to expedite trial proceedings of the cases filed in connection to the road accident in which five people, including her husband, were killed.
"If we have to wait so long for justice then what about the common people?" she questioned.
Tareque Masud, journalist Mishuk Munier and three others were killed and Catherine Masud, Prof Dhali Al-Mamun and his wife Dilara Begum were injured when a vehicle carrying them collided with a bus on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Ghior upazila on August 13, 2011.
Catherine was addressing a programme titled "Road Safety: A Dialogue in Memory of Tareque and Mishuk" organised by Brac and Tareque Masud Memorial Trust at Dhaka University.
"What we call an accident is not really so. It is murder. Road accidents come about because of conscious decisions on the part of those responsible," said Catherine.
Mishuk's widow Manjuly Kazi said, "The culture of impunity encourages drivers to drive recklessly and accidents continue to occur."
She emphasised the importance of including road safety in school curriculum to create awareness among children.
Ilias Kanchan, chairman of Nirapad Sarak Chai, urged everyone to be cautious when travelling by road.
"If you do not take responsibility of your life and cross the road while talking on a mobile phone then is it the responsibility of drivers to save you?” he asked, adding, "We should stop blaming others and be conscious."
Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique also termed the road accident "road killing".
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