The deadly journey

Eid is the biggest festival in this country of largely Muslim population. It is also the time when the largest internal human movement takes place in the country. During Eid festivals, everyone wants to spend time with their near and dear ones and so they travel to different districts, a journey that often turns deadly because of accidents.

According to a report by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity in 2017, during the Eid-ul-Azha, about 322 people died on their way home. All mediums of transportation suffered accidents, resulting in deaths and injuries, although the government would routinely assure us of safe travel and every time, without exception, they would fail to keep their promise.

How many more deaths will there be before the authorities deliver on their promise? I hope no family will have to bear the loss of a loved one this year.

Rummanur Rahman, Mirpur, Dhaka