Roads grow deadlier

Bangladesh has witnessed a 10 percent rise in road crashes and fatalities so far this year.
According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, 4,153 people lost their lives in 4,494 road accidents between January and September this year, compared to 4,016 deaths in 3,727 crashes during the same period in 2023.
In October alone this year, the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity recorded 475 fatalities from 452 road crashes nationwide.
Experts have urged for data-driven interventions and collective action to solve the issue.
The surge in crashes highlights persistent issues, including unfit vehicles, unlicensed drivers, inadequate infrastructure, and lax enforcement of safety rules.
Md Hadiuzzaman, former director of Buet’s Accident Research Institute, blamed transport owners for ignoring safety standards.
“Many operate purely as businessmen, disregarding the risks posed by unfit vehicles and unqualified drivers,” he said.
He also criticised the lack of political will to dismantle the powerful transport syndicates that resist reforms.
The transport sector has approximately 200,000 professional heavy vehicle drivers, falling short of the 300,000 registered buses, trucks, covered vans, and lorries. This shortage often forces operators to assign untrained and unlicensed drivers.
Government guidelines limit driving to five consecutive hours and eight hours daily, yet enforcement remains weak. Drivers, motivated by financial pressure, frequently exceed these limits.
“In most cases, we push ourselves to take extra trips to earn a bit more, but it comes at a cost. Fatigue sets in, and accidents become a real possibility,” said Rafiq Ahmed, a truck driver.
In June 2018, the government proposed building rest facilities for drivers and enforcing their work-hour limits.
However, these measures remain largely unimplemented, exacerbating risks.
Reforms to improve road safety, such as limiting commercial vehicle lifespans to 20 years for buses and 25 years for trucks, have faced resistance from transport associations.
An official from the transport ministry explained how political influence complicates the enforcement.
“Local leaders involved with the party in power manage informal transport, while central leaders dominate buses and trucks,” the official said, seeking anonymity.
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, criticised the previous government for failing to improve the transport sector.
He warned that the current administration must act decisively to address rising crashes or face public backlash.
He urged the formation of a Transport Sector Reform Commission, involving all stakeholders, to address the crisis.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency, recently launched the Database and Analysis of Road Crash app under the Dhaka Road Traffic Safety Project.
“The app provides real-time crash analysis and helps identify high-risk areas, enabling us to address root causes,” said Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Khondoker Nazmul Hasan.
He stressed the need for joint efforts by vehicle owners, drivers, and government agencies to improve safety.
Transport expert Prof Shamsul Hoque said past investments in the sector failed to enhance safety.
“The sector is controlled by a vicious circle of transport leaders, police, and politicians,” he said.
However, he pointed out that the interim government has the opportunity to restore order.
“With influential transport leaders on the run and major changes in the police administration, there is a unique opportunity to impose discipline,” he added.