Wanton deaths and vandalism of vehicles

Political violence has been responsible for the untimely deaths of at least 324 passengers and transport workers in two years alone, according to a report by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh. In addition, over 4.42 lakh passengers and transport workers suffered injuries, with 13,200 of them permanently maimed, while over 30,000 vehicles were vandalised.

These statistics are, no doubt, alarming and highlight the severity of people's hardships imposed by wanton political conflict. Given the indefinite nature of the blockade, people are being forced to lead highly insecure lives, with no guarantee if they will come back home alive, with their vehicle intact from torching or other attacks. Meanwhile, the transport sector is incurring daily losses amounting to Tk. 300 crore, according to transport owners.

In the last 20 days alone, at least 29 people have died, most of them from impoverished backgrounds, and the number will only increase as the blockade continues. Unlike workers in other hazardous jobs, transport workers, who are forced to work in these volatile conditions to sustain their monthly income, are not even entitled to any compensation or rehabilitation in case of death or severe injuries.

It is now all too obvious that, to our politicians, these people are mere statistics and 'collateral damage,' whose lives hold little value. In a democracy, intimidation and violence cannot be legitimate tactics of resistance; torching of vehicles and killing of civilians cannot be acceptable forms of protest.

We must forsake this deplorable political strategy of wrecking lives and vehicles in the name of waging movements.