Deaths in road accidents during Eid

Drawing lessons from this year, the roads, bridges and communications ministry should come up with a newer mechanism to control accidents

It is, as if, the pattern and incidence of road accidents have been designed in such a way that every year they keep recurring in a well synchronised manner in Bangladesh. But this should not have been the case. Traffic authorities concerned could do little other than getting accustomed to the spree of these avoidable deaths in roads during two Eids. This year, according to a report compiled by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh (PWAB), 254 people were killed and 696 injured in 205 road accidents during the Eid-ul-Azha festival.

The report was based on reports published in 22 national dailies, six regional dailies and 10 online news portals. Moreover, during the same period, 43 people were crushed under trains and 25 others were killed while 63 were injured in at least 15 waterways accident. There might be many other accidents apart from these reported cases.

However, so many lives wouldn’t have lost if traffic, highway police and vigilant teams would do their duties properly all across the country. Given the poor condition of roads due to floods and rains this year, there should have been extraordinarily precautions. In fact, if we had taken last year’s Eid accident statistics of 248 dead and 1,056 injured from 193 road accidents seriously, the number this year would have dropped significantly.  

The relevant traffic and roads authorities must take up the matter seriously to reduce accidents because there is none to shoulder the deaths which occurred in the last couple of weeks. We have repeatedly stressed on the need for safe roads and we also wrote about introducing a round-the-clock vigilant and rescue teams for deterring fatal accidents prior to this year’s Eid.

Drawing lessons from this year’s deaths and injuries, the roads, bridges and communications ministry should come up with a newer mechanism for identifying all the causes while doing the needful. If necessary, we must install close circuit camera facilities on all the vulnerable and dangerous spots. Furthermore, bus, private cars and truck owners must re-evaluate the skills of their drivers and make quick changes, if required.

It is expected that relevant traffic laws would be implemented to reduce the traffic deaths. Unless stricter laws are introduced and implemented, deaths on our roads – with or without Eid - will not stop.

Deaths in road accidents during Eid

Drawing lessons from this year, the roads, bridges and communications ministry should come up with a newer mechanism to control accidents

It is, as if, the pattern and incidence of road accidents have been designed in such a way that every year they keep recurring in a well synchronised manner in Bangladesh. But this should not have been the case. Traffic authorities concerned could do little other than getting accustomed to the spree of these avoidable deaths in roads during two Eids. This year, according to a report compiled by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh (PWAB), 254 people were killed and 696 injured in 205 road accidents during the Eid-ul-Azha festival. The report was based on reports published in 22 national dailies, six regional dailies and 10 online news portals. Moreover, during the same period, 43 people were crushed under trains and 25 others were killed while 63 were injured in at least 15 waterways accident. There might be many other accidents apart from these reported cases. However, so many lives wouldnt have lost if traffic, highway police and vigilant teams would do their duties properly all across the country. Given the poor condition of roads due to floods and rains this year, there should have been extraordinarily precautions. In fact, if we had taken last years Eid accident statistics of 248 dead and 1,056 injured from 193 road accidents seriously, the number this year would have dropped significantly. The relevant traffic and roads authorities must take up the matter seriously to reduce accidents because there is none to shoulder the deaths which occurred in the last couple of weeks. We have repeatedly stressed on the need for safe roads and we also wrote about introducing a round-the-clock vigilant and rescue teams for deterring fatal accidents prior to this years Eid. Drawing lessons from this years deaths and injuries, the roads, bridges and communications ministry should come up with a newer mechanism for identifying all the causes while doing the needful. If necessary, we must install close circuit camera facilities on all the vulnerable and dangerous spots. Furthermore, bus, private cars and truck owners must re-evaluate the skills of their drivers and make quick changes, if required. It is expected that relevant traffic laws would be implemented to reduce the traffic deaths. Unless stricter laws are introduced and implemented, deaths on our roads with or without Eid - will not stop.