Editorial
Danger stalking
Gross oversight of public safety
Two pictures appearing in this newspaper in the front page the day before speak volumes about how we have to constantly face and skirt danger in our daily life. Most of these are due to lack of concern for public safety on the part of the administration and law enforcers.
It defies comprehension, but it is a regular sight, that vehicles would be carrying payloads not only above their load capacity but also beyond their size of the vehicle. Can there be anything more dangerous on the streets of the capital than a truck carrying metal rods that jut out of its tail, or far above its sideboard. And that at night is even more dangerous since the following vehicle cannot see the tail light, a recipe for serious accident. Shouldn't the traffic have impounded the vehicle as soon as it hit the road? We do not need a new law for such violations. We wish the traffic police would be more vigilant and sensitive to our safety.
It is equally disconcerting to see people continue to live in dilapidated buildings in an old part of Dhaka city, where more than a hundred buildings have been declared either vulnerable or highly risky. And there is history of people being killed by collapsing building in this area in June 2004.
Apparently, these buildings cannot be demolished by the owners either because the area these are located in has been declared a heritage site or that the buildings are listed under Vested Property Act. Surely, nothing is more important than human lives and no law or caveat should stand against ensuring people's safety.
We would hope that the authorities concerned would immediately address these issues and take immediate steps so that unnecessary loss to life and property can be avoided.
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