Students take to streets again in Rampura demanding safe roads

Students of several schools and colleges again took to the streets in Dhaka's Rampura Bridge area today to protest against the corruption and mismanagement in the transport sector and demanding safe roads.

They will wear black badges at 12pm tomorrow in honour of those who have died in road accidents, protestors said.

Sohagi Samia, a student of Khilgaon Model College, spoke on behalf of the agitating students, claiming that those demonstrating against their movement are outsiders who are not affiliated with them.

She said that propaganda was being spread by outsiders in order to divert the movement.

Students used cartoons and placards to protest corruption, looting, and mismanagement on the streets. They began shouting slogans demanding safe roads at the time.

Photo: Muntakim Saad

In front of reporters, students raised the movement's 11-point demands once more.

Their demands are:

1. All those responsible for the deaths of Nayeem and Mainuddin must be brought to justice. Families of the victims must be fairly compensated. Footbridges will have to be constructed for pedestrian crossing in the area adjacent to Gulistan and Rampura bridges.

2. Half fare passes for students must be guaranteed with official notification and must be applicable for public transport all over the country. The half fare pass must be applicable throughout the day, and not just for specific hours. Hiked bus fares will have to be discontinued. On all routes, the number of BRTC buses needs to be increased.

3. Freedom of movement must be ensured for students and women and public transport workers must behave courteously.

4. Bus owners should be held accountable for fitness, unlicensed vehicles, and unlicensed drivers. Effective measures must be taken to combat BRTA corruption in the areas of vehicles' and drivers' licenses.

5. Number of traffic police on busy roads should be increased. Traffic lights and zebra crossings should be ensured. The government must take effective measures to control bribery and corruption among traffic police.

Photo: Muntakim Saad

6. To avoid reckless competition among buses, one bus company should be assigned to a single route, and daily earnings should be distributed among all transport owners based on their share.

7. Employees must be able to prove their employment by presenting valid identification card. Instead of contracting buses, the entire transport system must be streamlined to operate on a ticket and counter basis. Restrooms and toilets should be provided for the workers.

8. Drivers should not work over eight hours. There should be two drivers and two assistants for each bus. An adequate number of bus terminals must be built.

9. Road transport law must be reformed, and its implementation must take into account the opinions of passengers, transport workers and government officials.

10. Trucks, garbage trucks, and other heavy vehicles should operate between the hours of 12am and 5am.

11. To eradicate drug addiction, effective initiatives must be implemented across society. Drivers and assistants should be subjected to random drug tests and counseling on a regular basis.properly trained.