Transport sector-tied ministers blocking law to stop road accidents: Journalist

A journalist has alleged some government and opposition leaders, including a minister and a state minister, are blocking efforts to bring order to road traffic.

Syed Ishtiaque Reza made the allegation at a rally organised by the Committee to Protect Waterways, Roads and Railways in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday.

The chief editor of Gazi TV said, “Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association president is a state minister while the executive president of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation is a minister. They are obstructing the efforts to pass any law (to control traffic).”     

Transport owners’ association president and opposition Jatiya Party leader Moshiur Rahman Ranga is the State Minister for Rural Development and Co-operatives. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan is the chief of the transport workers’ federation.

“And another influential leader of the transport sector, Enayet Ullah (secretary general of the transport owners’ association), his Ena Paribahan buses ply the roads to kill people, not to transport them,” Ishtiaque alleged.

“The opposition and the ruling party leaders are working together here in the transport sector,” he added.

bdnews24.com could not reach Shajahan, Ranga or Enayet Ullah for their comments on the allegation.

Ishtiaque’s house help, the 21-year-old Rosina Akter lost a leg after a BRTC double-decker bus ran over her in Dhaka’s Banani on Apr 20.

Rosina was transferred from the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation or Pongu Hospital to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burns and plastic surgery department three days ago when her condition deteriorated.

DMCH doctors said she was not out of danger.

She suffered the mishap four days after the death of student Rajib Hossain, who was undergoing treatment after losing an arm in a race between two buses that involved a BRTC double-decker in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Apr 3.

Rajib's tragedy moved the nation, prompting authorities to strengthen drives to control reckless bus driving in the capital.

Ishtiaque said the rate of deaths in road traffic accidents in Bangladesh is the highest in the world.

According to him, such accidents cause 85 of every 1,000 deaths in the country.

Journalist Nikhil Bhadra, who lost a leg in an accident similar to the one involving Rosina in front of the Press Club seven years ago, was also present.

“I survived the accident, but many are dying every day. The victims’ families are suffering immense pain,” he said.

Nikhil emphasised training of the drivers and raising awareness among the people to stop road traffic accidents.