Home ›› 13 Apr 2023 ›› Opinion
Analysts estimate that around 80 lakh to 1.15 crore people leave the capital to celebrate Eid every year. But this Eid, there will be more crowd.
In the last two or three years, the number of people 'returning home during Eid was less. Due to Covid-19, people have less Eid Travelling. Now, there is no outbreak of Covid-19. Even the implementation of Padma Bridge makes the journey fast. Therefore, it is assumed that almost twice the number of people will go to the village house this Eid as last time. There is a risk of a severe traffic jam for a few days before and after the upcoming Eid trip.
Unbearable traffic jams make life miserable for commuters. Apart from this, there is a procession of passenger harassment, fare anarchy, and death due to road accidents. In 2021, 7 thousand 809 people were killed in road accidents. According to the data of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, in 2022, 9951 people were killed and 12356 injured in road accidents, the highest in the last eight years. According to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, the death rate due to road accidents in 2022 is 21.52 percent higher than in 2021. It is feared that this number may increase during the Eid journey in 2023.
So, who is responsible for this? Every year, the Eid journey is discussed and criticized in various ways. But the suffering of passengers and the loss of life in road accidents does not decrease. There is massive development of the road, but in reality, can the general public enjoy the benefits? The relevant authorities must take effective measures and long-term planning to reduce these accidents or suffering. It is doubtful whether people will return home if they get off the road now because the number of people killed in road accidents has increased every year.
The number of registered vehicles has increased four times. Motorcycles, easy bikes, and tri-wheelers are plying on national-local highways and roads in defiance of government orders. Some believe this is the cause of many accidents. The financial loss of the country due to motorcycle accidents is about 20-25 thousand crores which we see in newspapers.
According to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, last year, more than one crore people traveled from Dhaka to different districts of the country on an Eid trip. Also, about 5-6 crore people travel from one district to another. Apart from this, there may be an additional 50-60 million trip passengers in different types of transport in the country for various reasons, including Eid Bazaar and village home travel. Even though the government has taken many steps, road accidents have not been prevented. Due to traffic jams and mismanagement, this year's Eid journey could be very bad. As a result, Eid's joy in many people's houses can be ruined. So, concerned authorities and all of us should be aware while traveling. Proactive planning should be done for Eid Journey relief. For example, garment workers should be given Eid leave based on the roster. For example, leave cannot be given to workers in all areas at the same time. As a result, the number of passengers on the road will be reduced. Road renovation work should be done now for a better journey on Eid. But ten days or one week before Eid, all types of road renovation or construction work should be stopped. According to demand, a special launch or train should be arranged 5 or 3 days before and after Eid. Preparation of the government should be taken now to reduce the harassment or suffering of people during Eid. Different types of instructions should be issued to make the Eid journey
comfortable.
Analyzing the last few years' data shows that millions of people are leaving their homes for Eid shopping. During this Eid trip, ordinary people may suffer the most due to traffic congestion in the divisional cities. Therefore, it is necessary to make all streets free of hawkers and illegal parking in all divisional cities, including the capital.
Due to the pressure of excess passengers and the transport crisis, some transport owners-drivers have become reckless to run the anarchy of charging extra fares from the people. Law enforcement agencies should be more active so that no unscrupulous transport owners or drivers can collect high fares.
Failure to take exemplary effective measures influences the anarchy of charging double or triple extra fare on Eid Travelling. It is necessary to take strict measures to stop excessive fare collection and passenger harassment. But this is not only on the road. Rather, along with the anarchy of fares on waterways, there is the anarchy of collecting extra tolls on passenger crossings on Eid by the lessees engaged in shipping and ferries all over the country. This time also, they can become active. The intervention of the Ministry of Shipping and Roads is highly desirable to stop passenger harassment. Naval police can be influential in preventing marine accidents so that extra passengers cannot be taken or boarded.
Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway should be more closely monitored so that no driver can drive recklessly at high speed. Because recently several road accidents are happening on this road and people have died. This is very sad. It is feared that accidents may increase on this road during Eid. So, the vehicle's speed should be limited to the control line. For this reason, a speed gun (speed detector digital machine) should be placed in the hands of the police or on the road to control the vehicle's speed. Because if any driver drives at high speed, this machine will be detected, and the driver will be penalized and fined.
Besides, it is crucial to ensure the proper use of running ferries. Due to the fear of Kalbaisakhi this Eid, the waterway has become very dangerous. Therefore, unfit boats should be stopped. Millions of passengers may face public transport crisis since 25 Ramadan. It can be solved by increasing the leave. Many problems can be solved by sending family members home earlier. Administrative decentralization is an effective solution to reduce the pressure on Dhaka. Decentralization will reduce the number of people coming to Dhaka. All people will benefit
from this.
The writer is Associate Professor, Department of Accounting and Information Systems, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh. He can be contacted at shafiq@jkkniu.edu.bd
