Deaths under the wheels

We are shocked at the latest incident of road crash that occurred last Wednesday in Rajshahi. A bus ran over three people including a schoolgirl killing them all on the spot and also injuring several others.

The bus ploughed into the roadside shops and pinned the girl who was standing there to the wall of a shop. It was a holiday and the girl had gone to school to attend a programme of National Mourning Day at her school.

According to eyewitnesses, the bus was being driven by the helper instead of the driver, which was also evident by the erratic way the bus moved towards the public. What we do not understand is why the local OC and the general secretary of the Rajshahi Bus owners Association would deny the fact. Were they present at the spot during the incident? Such denials would only serve the interest of the guilty driver and the helper. The transport authorities and the local police concerned should move away from this denial mode and make sure that the guilty are brought to justice.

Needless to say, our transport sector needs to be strictly regulated. Earlier this month, we witnessed a massive student protest for safe roads after a bus ploughed into school students at a bus stop, killing two of them and injuring several others. The students had correctly identified the problems plaguing our transport sector and showed us how to maintain order in the sector. Will we ever learn?