High risks on highways
Photo: STAR
Mr. Rahman's important lead front-page article on the subject, published in your October 19th issue, should be compulsory reading for all top officials including the Hon. Ministers concerned for Communication and Finance; who have a very important and necessary role in eliminating this un-called for hazard, which can be very easily resolved, if they act on it! If say Tk.20,000/- is all that stands between un-necessary loss of life of unwary travellers, then it is indeed due to criminal negligence on the part of these two ministries, and they cannot shirk their responsibilities about it. Say Tk.300,000/- can be easily spared every year to eliminate fifteen such traffic hazards. In say five years, we could possibly eliminate all such hazards in our highways, where the loss of life and materials every year is more than taka three lacs for Bangladesh, by any count. After all, nothing great is involved in cutting down some trees and removal of the large ugly hoardings that are an eye soar in any case! It seems this is all that stands between the life and death for many innocent travellers, and vehicle drivers. It is also very sad, that the Roads & Highways (R&H), Road Design and Safety Circle (RDSC), possibly lives in its own circle of ignorance, without seeking the help of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of BUET, both funded by the GOB! Quite possibly, many of the senior engineers of R&H are themselves BUET graduates! What a shame, indeed! I would earnestly urge upon Hon. Prime Minister, to give a few hours on this matter, which I am also sure will earn her the gratitude of many travellers who travel on these highways regularly. She may press upon the RDSC, MOF and BUET to endure that the matter is resolved forthwith.
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