Roads turned death traps

It is undeniable that the roads and highways of the country have turned into death traps. In just one day, the toll from several horrific accidents exceeds 40 casualties! Among them, a tragic accident in Jhalakathi claimed the lives of 14 individuals on Wednesday, while a collision between a bus and a pickup in Kanaipur of Faridpur, resulted in 15 fatalities last Tuesday. A Raida Paribahan bus broke the boundary of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital on Friday, killing a senior civil aviation engineer in this incident.

Additionally, on Tuesday alone, 11 people, including two couples, lost their lives in separate incidents across six districts. The question remains: where does this procession of death on the roads lead, and who will provide answers?

According to multiple media reports, a tragic incident occurred at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the toll plaza of the Gabkhan Bridge in Jhalakathi. Three easybikes, a small cargo truck, a private car, and several other vehicles were waiting to pay the toll when a cement truck, heading from Khulna, collided with them at high speed, resembling a monster from the south side of the bridge. The impact of the collision caused the cement truck to break through the barrier and plunge into the ditch on the west side of the road. Tragically, the private car was crushed under the truck, resulting in the deaths of seven passengers, including six members of a family. Additionally, four riders of the easybikes lost their lives on the spot, while many others sustained injuries, with several succumbing to their injuries in the hospital. Among the deceased are seven men, three women, and four children. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims and pray for the departed souls to rest in peace.

When road accidents occur, it has become routine for various irregularities related to the vehicles responsible for the accident to come to light. Subsequently, extensive discussions take place in various circles, including the media, and various initiatives are proposed. However, despite these efforts, there seems to be no end in sight to the procession of death on the roads. Consequently, these fatalities have sadly become a normal occurrence, a fact that goes without saying.

In the incidents in Jhalakathi and Faridpur, various signs of irregularities, mismanagement, weaknesses, and indifference have been observed among those responsible for the accidents, the victims, and the state authorities involved in accident prevention. Taking the case of Jhalakathi as an example, it was found that the cement-ladden truck involved in the accident had an approved capacity of 13 tonnes, but it was carrying around 20 tonnes of cement. Moreover, the truck driver lacked the necessary license to operate heavy vehicles. Additionally, there were no regulations in place for such heavy-capacity vehicles on that particular road. Furthermore, the involvement of easybikes in the accidents also highlights another issue, as these three-wheelers are not permitted to operate on the road. It is believed that due to the excess load capacity, the driver was unable to control the truck at a certain point, leading to the tragic incident.

The question arises: despite the implementation of road safety projects involving significant funds, numerous recommendations, and the establishment of task forces, why are we still witnessing a rise in the number of accidents and casualties day by day? The Road Transport Authority, Department of Roads and Highways, Highway Police, and other government agencies are tasked with preventing irregularities, but why are these errors not identified and rectified beforehand? How did an overcapacity vehicle and its driver, lacking valid documents, manage to travel from Khulna to Jhalakathi? What actions are being taken by those responsible for monitoring such matters on the roads? These questions demand urgent answers and concrete actions to address the glaring issues in our road safety mechanisms.