Kamal Lohani raps Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan for defending errant drivers

Noted cultural personality Kamal Lohani has come down heavily on Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan for defending errant drivers against a recent spate of deaths in road accidents.

Lohani made the remarks at an event organised by Aranyak Natyadal, a grouping of cultural activists, to mark May Day in Dhaka on Tuesday. 

“Many have raised questions about the drivers’ capability and demanded death sentences for the errant drivers. Yet, the minister has backed them,” said Lohani who was the head of news at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the Liberation War.

“How can an indecent man like him become a cabinet member at a time when we pledge to build Bangladesh in the spirit of the Liberation War?”

Lohani indicated a conflict of interest between his role as a minister and his position at Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation.

“The minister says he is waging a labour movement. At the same time, he is a minister. How is that possible?” Lohani said.

Amid a widespread demand for tougher punishment to the reckless drivers responsible for deaths in road accidents, Khan said on Sunday the number of road traffic accidents will not go down, even with harsher punishment for drivers. 

“I don’t agree with those who say punishment for the drivers will help reduce road accidents. A murderer’s punishment is the death penalty. Can this punishment prevent killings?”  

Khan is the executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation—the apex trade body in the transport sector.

He had also been severally criticised several years ago because of his comments on drivers’ eligibility to get driving licences.

Speaking at the event, another noted cultural personality, Mamunur Rashid, rebuked the shipping minister and demanded the government bring him to book.  

Lohani was also critical against Narayanganj MP Shamim Osman and alleged that he has been extorting money from bus drivers and transport workers and spending the funds on his henchmen.