Editorial
Street violence with a reckless abandon
Enforcers lack effective mob control measures
Tempers are always high-strung in the capital city when it comes to road accidents. Two accidents in Dhanmondi and Moghbazar area on September 24, leading to fatality in one, sparked widespread
violence in both areas. While we sympathise completely with the families of the killed, we simply cannot condone the unruly behaviour of the students and the mob. Venting their anger on others, in terms of loss to property, smashing and torching of vehicles and causing endless suffering to commuters as traffic comes to a standstill has become typical behaviour we witness all too often. Why should the average commuter, pedestrian, or vehicle operator for that matter have to pay for an incident that was not their fault?
Such behaviour is a serious breach of law and order. Sadly our law enforcers seem to have no measures in place to effectively contain the rule of the mob. Indeed, if readers recall, Dhaka city's commuting suffered immensely at end-August when traffic police shut down movement on roads leading to Dhaka University in an effort to contain vandalism by students. This time round however, the usual baton charge followed by the odd teargas shell helped ignite an already charged
atmosphere into full-scale street battles between vandals and police.
Authorities are in full knowledge of the fact that reckless driving and uncoordinated pedestrian crossing are major problems in the city. Unless proper infrastructure, such as, underpasses located at suitable junctions, zebra crossings manned by policemen, etc. are made
operational, erratic movement by pedestrians will continue to happen. And such movement will always raise the probability of fatalities. It has become obvious that changes need to happen at institutional level. The authorities must make contingency plans and measures for mob control. The police need to be trained and equipped to that effect so as to be able to defuse a situation before widespread vandalism can take place.
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