Safe roads still a far cry

It is very unfortunate that little has been done by the government agencies to make our roads safe during the last one year, despite promises by the government to bring order on our roads. The first anniversary of the deaths of two college students who died in a horrifying road crash in Dhak­­a, sparking widespread protests for safe roads, was observed yesterday. But the fact remains that the number of deaths on Dhaka roads has not declined. In fact, the number has increased. According to the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of BUET, from July 1, 2018 till July 1, 2019, at least 297 people died in road crashes in Dhaka. What is more, 46 of them died on the airport road alone, where the two college students died last year.   

During the road safety movement, 60 cases were filed against the agitators, most of them students. What is surprising is that the police have submitted the charge sheets of only two cases to the court, as per a Prothom Alo report. The students, now on bail, have to appear in court from time to time, which is seriously hampering their educational activities. On the other hand, no action has been taken against the members of the student wings of the ruling party, who, reportedly, attacked the students indiscriminately.

Meanwhile, things have gone back to business-as-usual. Unfit vehicles still rule our roads. BRTA estimates that a total of 4,79,320 vehicles without valid fitness certificates are running on the roads across the country—of them, 2,61,113 are operating in Dhaka alone. The number of unlicensed and underage drivers is also high. Haphazard parking and stoppage go on unabated. But what is most unfortunate is that the Road Transport Act, passed in the Jatiya Sangsad in September 2018, has still not been put into force because of the opposition of the transport leaders. One wonders whose interest the administration is serving. The Act must be enforced with immediate effect in order to bring back discipline as well as put an end to deaths on roads.