Dhaka Bureau: Actor Ilyas Kanchan, chairman of Safe Roads Chai, has expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the government and the traffic police in preventing road accidents. Elias Kanchan expressed his displeasure at the press conference organized on the occasion of National Safe Road Day 2023 at the National Press Club on Sunday (October 1).
In response to a question about how satisfied he is with the role of the government and the police in preventing road accidents, Elias Kanchan said, “Not very much.” They did not do what could have been done. Those whose duty it is to make and enforce laws are not doing so. The elevated expressway is signposted for a speed limit of 60 kmph. There is a car running at 100 km. Who is responsible for taking care of it? What are the police doing here? It has become a habit of not doing it.
Elias Kanchan said, If other countries can reduce road accidents, why can’t we? Our ministers said, God’s wealth has been taken by God! As written on the forehead, we have nothing to do. These are said in Parliament. In 2010, the United Nations said it was not a disease. It is a man-made problem.
At the press conference, National Safe Roads Day on October 22 announced a month-long program called Safe Roads Want (Nischa). The organization will conduct countrywide road safety activities, awareness campaigns, driver training workshops, road safety workshops among teachers, round tables related to speed limits of vehicles, and exchange of views.
Stating that the Road Transport Act 2018 has many limitations, Ilyas Kanchan said that although the law prescribes punishment for violating the speed limit, the speed limit has not been fixed. We firmly believe that if proper laws and regulations are implemented in light of a holistic safe system approach, keeping in mind the five main behavioral risk factors of road accidents, viz., excessive speed, non-use of standard helmets and seatbelts, drunk driving, and the absence of child safety seats, we will be safe.
Nischar Secretary General Liton Ershad, Organizing Secretary SM Azad Hossain, Vice Chairman Manjuli Kazi, and Belayet Hossain Khan were present in the press conference.
