Photo : Collected
According to Passengers Welfare Association (Jatri Kalyan Samiti), a total of 24,954 people lose their lives in road accidents in Bangladesh every year. The report reveals that 51 percent of these road accident victims are sole earners i.e., over 12,000 families are running without a breadwinner. Approximately, 3.5 lakh people sustained injuries in these accidents annually with 80,000 becoming disabled, including more than 12,000 children less than 17 years. The economic impact is also deplorable with a 5.3 percent loss in gross domestic product (GDP) due to road accidents.
Government statistics paint a similarly grim picture, reporting that 64 people die on Bangladesh’s roads daily, and an average of 220 people are disabled each day due to accidents. Globally, the World Health Organization notes 1.3 million annual deaths from road accidents.
This alarming situation affects not only families but also society, the national economy, and the state as a whole. Despite some compensation efforts, many families remain unaware of their rights, and there’s a lack of transparency and accountability in the existing systems. The formation of the Road Safety Unit within BRTA and the Ministry of Road Transport, while a step in the right direction, hasn’t been effectively utilized for research or prevention activities.
There’s a pressing need for reforms from different sectors such as demands for compensation, like Tk 10 lakh for families of accident victims and Tk 5 lakh for injured patients, underscore the urgency. The introduction of an e-trafficking system holds the assumed promise of an 80 percent reduction in road accidents.
To make this vision a reality, initiatives like informing accident victims about compensation applications, mass awareness campaigns in police stations, hospitals, and bus terminals, and immediate cash assistance in major accident cases must be implemented. The application deadline for financial aid should be extended to a minimum of 1 year from the date of the accident, ensuring transparency in fund allocation.
Moreover, measures such as implementing e-trafficking prosecution through a CC camera system are essential. Collecting fines directly from drivers’ and owners’ bank accounts could streamline the process and prevent future accidents. Addressing these issues comprehensively and promptly is imperative to mitigate the devastating impact of road accidents on individuals, families, and the country as a whole.
Messenger/Disha
