At least 32 persons were killed and over a hundred injured, some of them critically in road mishaps in six upazilas of Jhenaidah in the last three months. Both BRTA, Highway Police, Traffic police and human rights activists have blamed the unskilled and unauthorised motor bikers, three wheelers, reckless driving of long-route buses, lack of adequate knowledge of people, especially in crossing the roads for the frequent road accidents. Maximum 14 incidents of the road accidents took place in March this year. Month-wise statistics of the road accidents - 13 persons died on the roads in January, five (lowest) in February and highest 14 in March. Of them, eight were killed in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, seven in Kaliganj and bordering Moheshpur each, six in Shailkupa and two in Kotchandpur and Harinakundu upazila each.
When contacted, some voluntary organization activists serving for road safety in Jhenaidah said death and injury on roads have become a regular feature in Jhenaidah, especially on the highways. Drivers of the motorbikes, most of the those are young and unauthorised three wheelers, do not care the lives and property of the people, even of themselves.
Human rights activist and also journalist Aminur Rahman Tuku said the people of all walks of life should be involved in the campaign about the burning issue now-a-days to reduce the incidents of death and injury. Winning race on the highways are considered important to them. Further, the drivers of two important transport associations Khulna bound Gorai Paribahan in Kushtia and Khulna bound Rupsha Paribahan in Khulna are almost reckless. They only consider their time, not the safety of the passengers and their goods. They merely care the damaged roads and speed breakers on the highway.
When contacted Highway police officer-in-charge (OC) in Jhenaidah Abdullah Al Mamun said they have been conducting drives against the unauthorised vehicles and drivers on the highway and realised fine from them. Some of the three-wheelers like Nosimon, Korimon, Alamsadhu, Bhotbhoti are running on the highways carrying agriculture goods. So, movement of these vehicles cannot be checked. But they do not have any valid papers to run the vehicles on highway, Highway OC Abdullah Al Mamun said.
When contacted, Jhenaidah district traffic inspector Golam Morshed said, they have been conducting drives and filing cases against the drivers and owners of vehicles especially, the unauthorized motorbikes. But the movement could not be checked.
He said some influential, including the political leaders and some of the government officials are requesting the authorities concerned to release the seized vehicles and reduce the fines. He urged the guardians to take care of their growing children closely so that the minors cannot drive motor vehicles without any valid documents, on the highways, District Traffic Inspector Golam Morshed said.