The report cited unplanned construction of roads, lack of proper maintenance and careless movement of vehicles as the main reasons behind the deaths of children on the roads.
However, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Chairman Noor Mohammad Majumdar claimed that the roads are now being constructed in a planned manner. He said, “We have been emphasizing on following the rules on the roads for the last two years. We already have some results. Everyone has to follow the rules. All quarters will have to follow the rules. There is a lack of awareness among people in this regard.”
However, Moazzam Hossain, former director of the Accident Research Institute at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), believes that although awareness is an important factor, the main reason for child deaths on roads is ‘lack of good governance on roads’ . ,
He said that the construction of roads is being done in a cursory manner because it is related to some political and financial benefits. However, public safety has been grossly ignored in this case.
*This report appeared on the print and online editions of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ashish Basu.