Columnist – rm:

It is regular reports on the common road accidents and deaths that take place on the highways. These updates are not to instill fear in the public mind, but to raise awareness among government policymakers, those involved in road management, drivers, transport workers and passengers.

Our road management is obviously weak. The roads are winding and twisted, the vehicles are faulty, and the drivers are untrained. Their wages are poor and they hardly get any holidays. There is a lack of monitoring required to address this state of affairs. Accountability and transparency is essential at every step to restore discipline to the roads and highways, and to reduce the number of accidents.

The road transport and bridges minister in the past would often give directives to relevant persons in the sector while inspecting the roads. But now that he has become the general secretary of Government, seems to be busier with bringing order to the party rather than to the roads. So will death continue to parade through the streets?

This cannot continue in any democratic civilized country. Road accidents occur anywhere in the world, but the guilty persons are vexed and punished. But in Bangladesh if any steps are taken against the accused in road accidents, the entire transport system is brought to a halt. Even a minister of the government supports such strikes. This is irrational.