358 people killed in overland, waterway accidents during 15-day Eid season

Nearly 590 people were killed on roads, rail tracks and inland waterways in March, including 358 people during the 15 days before and after Eid-ul-Fitr, said a non-profit named “Save the Road.”

Save the Road Secretary General Shanta Farzana blamed the historic surge in Eid-time fatal transport incidents to authorities’ inefficiencies and lackluster responses.

During the Eid season, the deceased included 294 women and children, the non-profit said citing media reports.

Moreover, 3,859 were injured, including 1,937 women and children, in 3,501 incidents of road and waterway crashes during 16-30 March, which marks the start and end of the Eid festival.

The relevant ministry officials took a lackluster approach against the covetous transport syndicate to the peril of general people. As a result, despite paying 100% more fares during the Eid season, many had to travel on the roofs of trucks, and accident-prone vehicles like pickup vans.

The fuel crisis added to the troubles for travelers.

During the 15 days of Eid season, there were also rampant dacoity and sexual harassment perpetrated by criminals on roads and highways amid the negligence shown by police and administrative officials.

During 16-30 March, as many as 122 incidents of robbery and snatching took place on the roads, leaving 96 people injured. Furthermore, 316 incidents of sexual harassment against women, and one rape took place on the roads, most of which were not reported to the police.

On the waterways, due to the negligence of Coast Guard and River Police, 15 were killed and 103 were injured in 102 accidents in the same period. In the railway sector, 14 were killed and 210 injured in 20 incidents of crashes and accidents, noted Save the Road.

To reduce accidents and crashes in future Eid seasons, Save the Road called for government focus on raising social awareness, strengthening relevant research works and accelerating volunteer activities.

To this end, there is no alternative to collaboration between the general people and passengers on one side, and government officials and transport syndicate on the other, the non-profit added.