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OPINION

Holy Traffic!

M M Ahmad
BRTA's go-sloiV process on the eradication of fake driving licenses, vide Star staff report (April 19) is only a small niche of the overall modern traffic control system not yet introduced in Bangladesh, transiting from Ihe bullock-cart stage to computerized fuel-injection technology in motor vehicles.
It is shocking to read daily about the death and injury toll due to motorized traffic accidents on the highways. The mysterious silence of the administrators and the public vehicular apex bodies is not all mysterious, as this is the standard we have come to expect । from all concerned in not discouraging the numerous deaths and injuries on the roads. The newspapers give rpore prominence to abortive political news to increase circulation. The public awareness can only be aroused in this country by the politicians (what halo!), and the latter are not Interested in non-political traffic!
The ministers speak daily to the public and in public, but it is one-way non-communica-tion. Each minister may very kindly make time to meet the press once every week, and face the usual barrage of topical questions (not prearranged), so that the public feeling/view is ventilated, and the citizens feel a sense of security that the authorities were seriously working on the current problems of the nation.
We hear from the official sources that the mass media have been given complete freedom, but why the officers in the public sector fight shy of meeting the press? This outdated rule may be reviewed for amendment for the same of transparency In the adminls tration ("The undersigned is directed to inform that (blah blah) ) in this information age; It the elected repreaenta lives of the people have no time, or are Incompetent. In feeding the public on the tnea sure taken by the ruling regime lo set things right The citizens are given no scope to grill the rulers One way speec h Is no conanunlcafton ask anvtx-b anywhere in the
There is silence all around
on the abnormal rise in traffic accidents. The Traffic Police is noi talking. The Prime Minister is silent, along with her Ministers. The Ministries have nothing to say (life Is cheap). Some condolence reactions are noticeable, then the great silence reigns till the next accident. What about preventive measures (instant, applicable from the next day). and changes in rules and procedures? The supervisory role Is practically absent due to chronic shortage of staff and know-how. The prosecution and conviction figures are not ' released. There are no deterrent actions — the merry fatalities go unabated — mostly due to errors of Judgement and non-observance of good-driving practices by the rash and non-discipltned drivers. A good driver, driving safely, can get involved due to the other driver’s fault. When two bad drivers want to show off. the effect is fatal!
The Insurance (compulsory) premium on public vehicles may be drastically Increased, as a deterrent measure, with heavy discount for no reported accident during the year.
The public transport apex bodies (associations, saniities etc of owners, drivers, conductors etc) are silent on traffic accidents, but talk loudly about raise of fares (they never issue condolence statement)! This 1$ Inhuman callousness silently tolerated by the public and the administration. The responsibility of the apex bodies may be reviewed, to ensure seff-regu latory practices.
There may be meetings and seminars every week (for 52 weeks) on the traffic problems (Including too many pedal rickshaws in the cities). Recently there was a Sports seminar at national level This la a good trend, and such think tank type of discussion may be extended to all the other sectors At least one pie nary session may be open to all citizens who request for the microphone to spesk out. The dailv timing, of the meetings msy be extended io Iste evening on demand
In the last analysis t ibung bunk is better than remaining I silent' I