150 killed since December

Dhaka-Tangail highway turns into death trap

The Dhaka -Tangail highway has turned into a death trap.  More than 150 people have been killed and 1000 others injured, of whom 200 maimed, in road accidents since December, 2014.
Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge highway is one of the busiest roads of the country. It is only the way connecting 22 northern districts with capital city and other districts of the country. The highway also connects Jamalpur via Tangail, Sarisabari, Madargonj, Roumari, Dhabari, Sagordighi with Dhaka, Chittagong and some other districts.  The bridge authorities said more than 20,000 vehicles ply through BJMB every day. About 5000 vehicles move between Elenga and Tangail on the highway.
The road accidents have become a regular feature on the highway. According to sources in Tangail police, 207 accidents occurred on the highway from December to October in which 150 people were killed. Experts say pressure of vehicles, overtaking in speed by competing drivers, unfit vehicles and slow-moving three-wheelers are the main causes for the accidents.
The accidents mainly occur on 70 km highway from Gorai to BJMB East. The most vulnerable points are Pakulla, Gorai, Dherua, Kodimdholla under Mirzapur upazila, Ashequepur and Rabna by-pass in Tangail Sadar, Gharinda, Solla, Elenga in Kalihati upazila and Bayoikhola in Basail upazila of the district.
 The sources said 103 accidents occurred on the Mirzapur Cadet College -Korotia by-pass road claiming 96 lives, 22 accidents on Korotia-Elenga with 26 deaths, 82 accidents occurred on Elenga-BJMB East taking 19 lives.
Four passengers of a three-wheeler were killed and two others severely injured in a road accident on October 25.
The drivers attributed the accidents to narrow road, dilapidated condition and deadly curves. Covered van driver Abdul Gafur of Rajshahi said he has been driving on the highway for the last 15 years. But he has not met any accident for his awareness. Awareness can prevent many fatal accidents, he opined.
Rubel Hossain a driver of Saymoli Paribahan of North Bengol said he is responsible for safety of 50 passengers, including him. Lack of attention on the part of drivers is the main cause of most of the accidents, he said.
The passengers suffer from insecurity on the highway. Aftab Hossain, an NGO employee, said he goes to office from Tangail to Mirzapur by bus in anxiety. Highway police think that competition by the drivers, transports without fitness and narrow road are the main causes of the accidents. Kamruzzaman Raj Sergeant of Elenga Highway police said three-wheelers have now stopped moving on the highway. As a result, the accidents on the highway have reduced, claims Raj.
Lutfur Rahman, President of Tangail Minibus Sramik Union, said narrow and dilapidated highway is causing accidents. Deputy Commissioner of Tangail Mahbubur Rahman said the Dhaka-Tangail highway will have four lanes. The work on the expansion will start soon, he added.

150 killed since December

Dhaka-Tangail highway turns into death trap

The Dhaka -Tangail highway has turned into a death trap. More than 150 people have been killed and 1000 others injured, of whom 200 maimed, in road accidents since December, 2014. Dhaka-Tangail-Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge highway is one of the busiest roads of the country. It is only the way connecting 22 northern districts with capital city and other districts of the country. The highway also connects Jamalpur via Tangail, Sarisabari, Madargonj, Roumari, Dhabari, Sagordighi with Dhaka, Chittagong and some other districts. The bridge authorities said more than 20,000 vehicles ply through BJMB every day. About 5000 vehicles move between Elenga and Tangail on the highway. The road accidents have become a regular feature on the highway. According to sources in Tangail police, 207 accidents occurred on the highway from December to October in which 150 people were killed. Experts say pressure of vehicles, overtaking in speed by competing drivers, unfit vehicles and slow-moving three-wheelers are the main causes for the accidents. The accidents mainly occur on 70 km highway from Gorai to BJMB East. The most vulnerable points are Pakulla, Gorai, Dherua, Kodimdholla under Mirzapur upazila, Ashequepur and Rabna by-pass in Tangail Sadar, Gharinda, Solla, Elenga in Kalihati upazila and Bayoikhola in Basail upazila of the district. The sources said 103 accidents occurred on the Mirzapur Cadet College -Korotia by-pass road claiming 96 lives, 22 accidents on Korotia-Elenga with 26 deaths, 82 accidents occurred on Elenga-BJMB East taking 19 lives. Four passengers of a three-wheeler were killed and two others severely injured in a road accident on October 25. The drivers attributed the accidents to narrow road, dilapidated condition and deadly curves. Covered van driver Abdul Gafur of Rajshahi said he has been driving on the highway for the last 15 years. But he has not met any accident for his awareness. Awareness can prevent many fatal accidents, he opined. Rubel Hossain a driver of Saymoli Paribahan of North Bengol said he is responsible for safety of 50 passengers, including him. Lack of attention on the part of drivers is the main cause of most of the accidents, he said. The passengers suffer from insecurity on the highway. Aftab Hossain, an NGO employee, said he goes to office from Tangail to Mirzapur by bus in anxiety. Highway police think that competition by the drivers, transports without fitness and narrow road are the main causes of the accidents. Kamruzzaman Raj Sergeant of Elenga Highway police said three-wheelers have now stopped moving on the highway. As a result, the accidents on the highway have reduced, claims Raj. Lutfur Rahman, President of Tangail Minibus Sramik Union, said narrow and dilapidated highway is causing accidents. Deputy Commissioner of Tangail Mahbubur Rahman said the Dhaka-Tangail highway will have four lanes. The work on the expansion will start soon, he added.