Road crash deaths elicit little public reaction

Due to high frequency of road accidents in the country, around 15 to 20 persons die every day, but it elicits little reaction from the public, said speakers at a seminar on prevention of road accidents yesterday.

They added that the civil society protests when a celebrity or an important person dies in a road accident, but it does not raise its voice when ordinary people die.

National Unity for Prevention of Road Accidents organised the seminar at the Central Public Library in the capital.       

"Almost all families in the country are somehow affected by road crashes," said former professor of Buet Abdur Rahim, also convener of the group.

He said if the victim happens to be an influential person, the government or different organisations provide support to the family, but families of ordinary people get nothing.

Ramesh Chandra Ghosh, managing director of Shyamoli Paribahan, urged Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to issue driver's license to only those capable of driving.

He also urged authorities to amend laws so that drivers who break traffic rules are banned from driving for life.

Md Ali Reza, general secretary of Biplobi Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation, said jaywalking and makeshift structures on road are two of the major reasons behind road accidents.

Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, vice chancellor of Dhaka University, who was present as the chief guest, emphasised awareness campaigns to lower road accidents.