Killing people with impunity

The chilling story of Rezaul Karim, the man allegedly pushed off a minibus by the helper and then squashed to death by the driver of the minibus he was riding, sends shivers down the spine! The incident occurred in City Gate area near the port city on August 28. Witnesses on the bus have stated that Karim had had an altercation with the helper and going by what his co-passengers have said, the manner in which the man was literally shoved out of the bus and run over is tantamount to murder. It is simply amazing that in the aftermath of so much protest by school students regarding the lack of road safety that leads to countless deaths, we are still being confronted with such tales of horror. The police, unfortunately, are yet to apprehend the culprits.

There has been no change in the mentality of drivers and their assistants. These people seem to be suffering from the notion that they are above the law and authorities are there to protect their interests and not those of commuters. These accidents are occurring every single day and authorities simply cannot adopt a laidback attitude to such murderous behaviour. Dhaka city was brought to a virtual standstill for a week by schoolgoing students who had been demanding safer roads. Roads cannot be made safer if transport workers are allowed to put commuters to risk. The law is applicable for all and we demand that the driver and the helper, both of whom are equally guilty for this despicable act, be apprehended without delay. They must be made to face justice.