Term drivers service providers not killers
Transport workers urge civil society
Transport workers yesterday urged everyone, especially media persons and civil society members, not to characterise drivers as “killers”, rather to term them as “service providers”.
Accidents occur due to several reasons including dilapidated condition of roads, risky turning points and temporary markets and shops on highways. But all the blame falls on drivers when any accident occurs. This is shocking, they said.
They made the remarks at a human chain organised by Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Sramik Federation in front of Jatiya Press Club in the city.
Their other demands include punishment of Roads and Highways Department engineers for faulty road construction, setting up road dividers in all highways and eviction of shops and markets from highways.
Communication over rivers and railway should be developed to reduce pressure over road transportation. This will also reduce road accidents, said Osman Ali Khan, general secretary of the federation.
He also stressed the need for a massive campaign to create awareness among passengers and pedestrians and to arrange proper training for the drivers to reduce road accidents.
However, the federation Executive President Shahjahan Khan, also the shipping minister, did not attend the function.
He recently faced severe criticism over media for pressing Bangladesh Road Transport Authority to provide license to several thousand drivers without tests.
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