Bangladesh Students Protest l Updates, News & Discussion
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El Sidd
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Genocide of biharis rohingyas and muslims.
Standard answer ask anyone traveling in Time.
The Ronin
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That happened when police charged them, they were protesting peacefully.
And about the murder and rape rumor..........Are BCL thugs stupid enough to keep the bodies as trophy/ evidence?? They will definitely dump/hide those like they always do.
Do you really think anyone cares if a retard m*nkey like @UKBengali ignore me or not? But, I will just slap right at your face if you misbehave with me or others, bloody BCL b*stard!! Just get lost. We are all tired of your development gossip when people have to do boat riding after only half an hour of rainfall in Dhaka, and the drivers drive recklessly. Only democracy can solve the waterlogging issue. That Hasina should be hanged from the light post. She is the main criminal behind Pilkhana BDR killing.2 month ignore starts from now.
No, that BAL should be pushed through your ***, monkey. Do you think your one vote will cause that party to win the election?
EasyNow
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Whatever crimes have been committed need to be punished, that minister needs to get the boot and never be allowed to be involved in transport again.
Major shakeup of the transport sector is needed - like every other sector.
But BD needs order in the streets again, rapes and murders escalating out of a bus accident protest is madness.
It is the poor that revolt in society, because they have nothing to lose. Unfortunately BD is mostly poor, so revolt comes easily. So the challenge is not to create revolution the hard part is tempering it.
Homo Sapiens
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https://www.firstpost.com/world/ban...-for-road-safety-weak-governance-4896211.html
Bangladesh students' protests a result of anger building over official apathy for road safety, weak governance
World FP Staff Aug 05, 2018 17:32:09 IST
Since 29 July, students in Bangladesh have been out on the streets demanding that the government take action against those who violated traffic rules and indulge in negligent and rash driving, and make the roads safer for its citizens. Students have been checking licences of vehicles and drivers, and streaming live videos on Facebook. The peaceful protests, however, turned violent on Saturday. While students accused the police of using rubber bullets at peaceful protesters, the police denied it. Now reports have emerged that the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, was actually behind the attacks on students on Saturday. Greeshma Rai of Firstpost spoke to journalists, students and professors in Dhaka, to get a first-person account of what actually transpired on Saturday.
Students in Bangladesh have been protesting against lack of road safety for close to a week now. The ruling Awami League government has tried many methods to curb the protests which have brought the State to a standstill for eight days now. It is therefore, not very surprising that certain groups indulged in violence to disperse the crowd, which up until now had been peaceful.
These unprecedented protests were led by school and college-going students between the ages of 11 and 17 who have no political affiliation. Statements were made by the ruling government regarding involvement of ex-prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party but looking at the nature of the protests, nobody in Bangladesh questioned the motivations of these young students.
Student protesters were reportedly attacked in Bangladesh's capital by the student wing of the ruling party on Saturday. Image courtesy: Md Abusufian Jewel
The protests are a result of anger building among students because of regular deaths due to road accidents caused by negligent and rash driving. The tragic death of two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College caused by negligent driving was the tipping point.
Coupled with this was the apathy of the government. Shahajahan Khan, Minister for Shipping, is also the executive president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation, which is dominated by private bus operators. When asked about the deaths, Khan smiled and responded with something along the lines of: 'Aren’t these accidents common?'
He has been regularly blamed for stalling traffic-related regulations and it was evident why he made a statement like this.
His statement furthered inflamed the outrage against the student deaths. Protests started with the students from Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College taking to the streets. They were joined by more students and protests spread across the country.
In Dhaka, wherever there are schools, the students have gathered outside with placards and slogans. It is not only students, even their parents, guardians and teachers who have been accompanying them to these protests. The students' demands? That the government makes roads safer for common citizens by stopping vehicles without the necessary permits and drivers without licences.
They also demanded that government officials failing to regulate or press for compliance of traffic-related rules be brought to book.
Protesters demanded that government officials failing to regulate traffic-related rules be brought to book. Image courtesy: Md Abusufian Jewel
Public transportation has always been a contentious issue in Bangladesh, especially bus services. The common people are at the mercy of private bus operators and no strict regulations are in place. If there is a protest by the people when a death is caused (due to negligent driving) or an untimely price hike, the Bus Operators Association promptly calls a strike, paralysing the only regular mode of public transport. The government has never interfered or tried to strengthen regulations pertaining to their operations. Even now, the association has suspended all operations. There are no buses plying to or from Dhaka.
When the protests broke out, the public consensus was that these children were spearheading a genuine cause. In addition, protests were peaceful other than stray incidents here and there.
From day one of the protests, students posted live videos on Facebook of them checking licences and permits. Everybody was stopped. Videos of four ministers travelling in vehicles which didn’t have necessary documents went viral. Even high-ranking police officials and Bangladeshi press seemed to have been flouting the rules, as the videos revealed. These students held up a mirror to the society, with something as simple as a Facebook Live.
All these videos brought forth the issue which is most talked about but hardly finds space in mainstream discussions: Weak governance in almost every sector, and who was taking advantage of this.
In transport, for instance, it emerged over the past few days that it's not just bus operators who are flouting norms, so is everybody else in positions of power like high-ranking officials. Heated discussions started about the shortcomings of other sectors such as banking, the loss-making State-owned industries, and the bad state of railways.
It is true that this situation can easily be politicised by the Opposition with the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh. The Opposition is already trying hard to do so. The student wing of the ruling party, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, which has a terrible reputation in Bangladesh, was allegedly behind the attacks on the protesting students.
Now, both the sides will blame the other and with this politicking, we will eventually lose focus of what these students set out to do. Also, anything that is against Awami League is labelled as Jamaat-e-Islami influenced. This has become an easy method to dismiss any form of discontent. Nevertheless, one would be forced to agree on the point that the government doesn’t have much to save face. Charges of corruption have been levelled against the government and the state of affairs are far from good.
The truth is Bangladesh is facing a huge crisis of leadership. The prime minister probably has good intentions but her government is filled with individuals whose records are far from clean. The dismissive attitude from ministers like Khan is becoming the new normal. Public discontent against ministers and government officials like Khan and his ilk cannot be silenced forever, as these protests have clearly shown.
As told to Greeshma Rai
Updated Date: Aug 05, 2018 17:32 PM
Bangladesh students' protests a result of anger building over official apathy for road safety, weak governance
World FP Staff Aug 05, 2018 17:32:09 IST
Since 29 July, students in Bangladesh have been out on the streets demanding that the government take action against those who violated traffic rules and indulge in negligent and rash driving, and make the roads safer for its citizens. Students have been checking licences of vehicles and drivers, and streaming live videos on Facebook. The peaceful protests, however, turned violent on Saturday. While students accused the police of using rubber bullets at peaceful protesters, the police denied it. Now reports have emerged that the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling party, was actually behind the attacks on students on Saturday. Greeshma Rai of Firstpost spoke to journalists, students and professors in Dhaka, to get a first-person account of what actually transpired on Saturday.
Students in Bangladesh have been protesting against lack of road safety for close to a week now. The ruling Awami League government has tried many methods to curb the protests which have brought the State to a standstill for eight days now. It is therefore, not very surprising that certain groups indulged in violence to disperse the crowd, which up until now had been peaceful.
These unprecedented protests were led by school and college-going students between the ages of 11 and 17 who have no political affiliation. Statements were made by the ruling government regarding involvement of ex-prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party but looking at the nature of the protests, nobody in Bangladesh questioned the motivations of these young students.
Student protesters were reportedly attacked in Bangladesh's capital by the student wing of the ruling party on Saturday. Image courtesy: Md Abusufian Jewel
The protests are a result of anger building among students because of regular deaths due to road accidents caused by negligent and rash driving. The tragic death of two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College caused by negligent driving was the tipping point.
Coupled with this was the apathy of the government. Shahajahan Khan, Minister for Shipping, is also the executive president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation, which is dominated by private bus operators. When asked about the deaths, Khan smiled and responded with something along the lines of: 'Aren’t these accidents common?'
He has been regularly blamed for stalling traffic-related regulations and it was evident why he made a statement like this.
His statement furthered inflamed the outrage against the student deaths. Protests started with the students from Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College taking to the streets. They were joined by more students and protests spread across the country.
In Dhaka, wherever there are schools, the students have gathered outside with placards and slogans. It is not only students, even their parents, guardians and teachers who have been accompanying them to these protests. The students' demands? That the government makes roads safer for common citizens by stopping vehicles without the necessary permits and drivers without licences.
They also demanded that government officials failing to regulate or press for compliance of traffic-related rules be brought to book.
Protesters demanded that government officials failing to regulate traffic-related rules be brought to book. Image courtesy: Md Abusufian Jewel
Public transportation has always been a contentious issue in Bangladesh, especially bus services. The common people are at the mercy of private bus operators and no strict regulations are in place. If there is a protest by the people when a death is caused (due to negligent driving) or an untimely price hike, the Bus Operators Association promptly calls a strike, paralysing the only regular mode of public transport. The government has never interfered or tried to strengthen regulations pertaining to their operations. Even now, the association has suspended all operations. There are no buses plying to or from Dhaka.
When the protests broke out, the public consensus was that these children were spearheading a genuine cause. In addition, protests were peaceful other than stray incidents here and there.
From day one of the protests, students posted live videos on Facebook of them checking licences and permits. Everybody was stopped. Videos of four ministers travelling in vehicles which didn’t have necessary documents went viral. Even high-ranking police officials and Bangladeshi press seemed to have been flouting the rules, as the videos revealed. These students held up a mirror to the society, with something as simple as a Facebook Live.
All these videos brought forth the issue which is most talked about but hardly finds space in mainstream discussions: Weak governance in almost every sector, and who was taking advantage of this.
In transport, for instance, it emerged over the past few days that it's not just bus operators who are flouting norms, so is everybody else in positions of power like high-ranking officials. Heated discussions started about the shortcomings of other sectors such as banking, the loss-making State-owned industries, and the bad state of railways.
It is true that this situation can easily be politicised by the Opposition with the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh. The Opposition is already trying hard to do so. The student wing of the ruling party, the Bangladesh Chhatra League, which has a terrible reputation in Bangladesh, was allegedly behind the attacks on the protesting students.
Now, both the sides will blame the other and with this politicking, we will eventually lose focus of what these students set out to do. Also, anything that is against Awami League is labelled as Jamaat-e-Islami influenced. This has become an easy method to dismiss any form of discontent. Nevertheless, one would be forced to agree on the point that the government doesn’t have much to save face. Charges of corruption have been levelled against the government and the state of affairs are far from good.
The truth is Bangladesh is facing a huge crisis of leadership. The prime minister probably has good intentions but her government is filled with individuals whose records are far from clean. The dismissive attitude from ministers like Khan is becoming the new normal. Public discontent against ministers and government officials like Khan and his ilk cannot be silenced forever, as these protests have clearly shown.
As told to Greeshma Rai
Updated Date: Aug 05, 2018 17:32 PM
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Black_cats
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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...rges-teen-protesters-to-go-home-amid-violence
Bangladesh
Bangladesh PM urges teen protesters to go home amid violence
Sheikh Hasina warns of risk as demonstrators and police clash in road safety dispute
Agence France-Presse
Sun 5 Aug 2018 12.06 BST Last modified on Sun 5 Aug 2018 14.01 BST
Bangladeshi police clash with students in Dhaka on Sunday. Photograph: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged students to go home as police fired tear gas during an eighth day of protests over road safety which have paralysed parts of Dhaka.
Students in their tens of thousands have brought parts of the capital to a standstill after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus.
The unrest quickly spread beyond the capital. Authorities have shut down mobile internet services across swathes of the country, officials and local media said.
On Saturday the protests took a violent turn in Dhaka’s Jigatala neighbourhood, with more than 100 people injured as police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators.
A car carrying US ambassador Marcia Bernicat was also attacked by “armed men” but she escaped unhurt, the embassy said.
The violence continued on Sunday with police firing tear gas into a large crowd marching toward an office of the ruling Awami League party, an AFP correspondent said.
Hasina warned on Sunday that a “third party” could sabotage the protests and put the safety of demonstrators at risk.
“That’s why I request all guardians and parents to keep their children at home. Whatever they have done is enough,” the prime minister said from her office.
Some youngsters were rushed to hospital on Saturday after being attacked, allegedly by pro-government activists, witnesses said.
Hasina’s warning came as protesters marched towards the scene of Saturday’s clashes chanting, “We want justice!”
Police denied they fired rubber bullets or tear gas at the protesters. However hospital staff said dozens of people had been injured, some seriously, and injuries were consistent with rubber bullets.
The Awami League has denied allegations that its officials beat up students.
The country’s biggest-circulation newspaper, Prothom Alo, said 3G and 4G internet services have been shut down since late on Saturday, shortly after the violence broke out.
Social media has been filled with comments from Bangladeshis unable to access the internet via their phones, although wireless and wired networks appear to have been unhindered.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said it would comment later on Sunday.
A senior telecoms official who asked for anonymity said: “The BTRC has slowed down the internet at the order of the government.”
The move may be an attempt to limit the ability of students to mobilise or express growing online anger at how the government has handled the protests.
Images and photos of the attacks on students allegedly by ruling party activists have flooded social media, prompting renewed anger.
Bangladesh’s transport sector is widely seen as corrupt, unregulated and dangerous. As news of the teenagers’ deaths spread rapidly on social media they became a catalyst for an outpouring of anger against the government.
Hasina’s government has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, but in recent months it has been shaken by separate mass protests demanding an end to a decades-old system of discriminatory civil service recruitment.
Several powerful ministers have urged students to return to their classes, amid fears the unprecedented teen anger could spark widespread anti-government protests before a general election due later this year. But their pleas have had little effect.
An insensitive comment by Shajahan Khan, a government minister with ties to powerful transport unions, fanned the flames last week.
Khan questioned why there was such an uproar over the two Dhaka children but no reaction when 33 people were killed in an Indian bus crash the day before.
There have been widespread social media demands for the minister’s resignation despite his subsequent apology.
High schools were shut on Thursday as officials promised students their demands for road safety reforms would be considered.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh PM urges teen protesters to go home amid violence
Sheikh Hasina warns of risk as demonstrators and police clash in road safety dispute
Agence France-Presse
Sun 5 Aug 2018 12.06 BST Last modified on Sun 5 Aug 2018 14.01 BST
Bangladeshi police clash with students in Dhaka on Sunday. Photograph: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images
Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged students to go home as police fired tear gas during an eighth day of protests over road safety which have paralysed parts of Dhaka.
Students in their tens of thousands have brought parts of the capital to a standstill after two teenagers were killed by a speeding bus.
The unrest quickly spread beyond the capital. Authorities have shut down mobile internet services across swathes of the country, officials and local media said.
On Saturday the protests took a violent turn in Dhaka’s Jigatala neighbourhood, with more than 100 people injured as police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators.
A car carrying US ambassador Marcia Bernicat was also attacked by “armed men” but she escaped unhurt, the embassy said.
The violence continued on Sunday with police firing tear gas into a large crowd marching toward an office of the ruling Awami League party, an AFP correspondent said.
Hasina warned on Sunday that a “third party” could sabotage the protests and put the safety of demonstrators at risk.
“That’s why I request all guardians and parents to keep their children at home. Whatever they have done is enough,” the prime minister said from her office.
Some youngsters were rushed to hospital on Saturday after being attacked, allegedly by pro-government activists, witnesses said.
Hasina’s warning came as protesters marched towards the scene of Saturday’s clashes chanting, “We want justice!”
Police denied they fired rubber bullets or tear gas at the protesters. However hospital staff said dozens of people had been injured, some seriously, and injuries were consistent with rubber bullets.
The Awami League has denied allegations that its officials beat up students.
The country’s biggest-circulation newspaper, Prothom Alo, said 3G and 4G internet services have been shut down since late on Saturday, shortly after the violence broke out.
Social media has been filled with comments from Bangladeshis unable to access the internet via their phones, although wireless and wired networks appear to have been unhindered.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said it would comment later on Sunday.
A senior telecoms official who asked for anonymity said: “The BTRC has slowed down the internet at the order of the government.”
The move may be an attempt to limit the ability of students to mobilise or express growing online anger at how the government has handled the protests.
Images and photos of the attacks on students allegedly by ruling party activists have flooded social media, prompting renewed anger.
Bangladesh’s transport sector is widely seen as corrupt, unregulated and dangerous. As news of the teenagers’ deaths spread rapidly on social media they became a catalyst for an outpouring of anger against the government.
Hasina’s government has ruled Bangladesh since 2009, but in recent months it has been shaken by separate mass protests demanding an end to a decades-old system of discriminatory civil service recruitment.
Several powerful ministers have urged students to return to their classes, amid fears the unprecedented teen anger could spark widespread anti-government protests before a general election due later this year. But their pleas have had little effect.
An insensitive comment by Shajahan Khan, a government minister with ties to powerful transport unions, fanned the flames last week.
Khan questioned why there was such an uproar over the two Dhaka children but no reaction when 33 people were killed in an Indian bus crash the day before.
There have been widespread social media demands for the minister’s resignation despite his subsequent apology.
High schools were shut on Thursday as officials promised students their demands for road safety reforms would be considered.
what is their demand?
Al-zakir
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They must not stop until their demand is fulfilled. It’s a old habit of Hasina to give false promises at the moment but completely refuse later. She is a natural born lair and low life. I want to see this bloodthirsty Hasina ousted from power.
Sine Nomine
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Homo Sapiens
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Mindspeak
The law and the transport monsters
Nafiul Alam Shupto | Published: 00:00, Aug 05,2018
From the left-Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib, higher-secondary level students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment School and College, who died due to reckless bus driving on July 29, 2018 on Airport Road, Dhaka.
On July 29, 2018, a bus ploughed through a number of school students awaiting transports on the footpath on Airport road and killed two on the spot. This stirred the student community and formed a spontaneous mass movement demanding road safety. Nafiul Alam Shupto, in this scenario, talks about the existing road laws and the political reality of road transport system..
Imagine you are standing on a walkway in Dhaka and texting your friend and suddenly a public bus ploughed you along with other pedestrians. Isn’t that terrifying? Why do we have to live with this type of imagination? It is mournful when a person’s darkest fear becomes a part of their daily life. Not only in Dhaka, but all over in Bangladesh, the insanity of the public transport workers is making our life melancholic on a noticeable way.
How come our lives on roads of the capital have become so vulnerable? The reasons are the reckless driving of the public transport drivers and their insane behaviour. It has become regular news that road accidents are taking place in the capital city and people are losing their lives. There are thousands of movements, press conferences & mass media coverage against the reckless bus driving but still no one is listening to the pleas of the people. Why does this kind of attitude occur? It feels like the road transport owners-workers hold a robust position in the society as well as in the administration and the government.
The law
Sec 279 of the penal code, 1860 stated that whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may subject to the minimum of Tk 1,000, and extend to Tk 5,000 or with both.
Again Section 304A says that ‘Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment either description for a term, which may extend to five years or with fine, or with both’.
At the same time, section 304B provides that, ‘Whoever causes the death of any person by rash or negligent driving of any vehicle or riding on any public way not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both’.
On the other hand, section 143 of The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983 states that ‘Whoever drives a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances of the case including the nature, condition and use of the place where the vehicle is driven and the amount of traffic which actually is at the time or which might reasonably be expected to be in the place, shall be punishable on a first conviction for the offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Tk 500, and his driving license shall be suspended for a specified period, and for a subsequent offence if committed within three years of the commission of a previous similar offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand Taka, or with both, and his driving license shall be suspended for a period not exceeding one month’.
I am referring to previous laws just to show why the murderers always escape the law. Because of the ineffectiveness of the law, the murderers every time, get away with the enemies from the punishment. It is the high time we amended the law and make the law harder so that the punishment becomes severe.
The Monsters
Thousands of road accidents take place all over Bangladesh on a regular basis, still the law enforcement agencies as well as the law makers show little to no effort to minimise the casualties. I believe their carelessness is the main reason behind this reckless behaviour of the transport workers. If we look thoroughly, many leaders and owners of the transport sector holds seats in the parliament even in the cabinet. Not only the top chiefs of the transportation system, but also their associates have connections to the ruling party politics. From root level to national level, in everywhere, there are people who are involved in politics as well as have stakes in transportation business. Transport sector is one of the most common areas where the politicians and even their family members make investments. These groups of people maintain a strong syndicate so that they can easily show their muscle power and exploit the system irrespective of the betterment of the public.
If we have a look at the transport workers union they are stronger than any other existing workers’ union of Bangladesh and this leads to a high number of workers becoming even harsher. There are thousands of leaders as well as the followers in the transport sectors. If passengers get into trouble with the transport workers, there are goons stationed at different strategic points, employed by the bus companies, to fend off the situation.
Talking about the muscle power just because to make people realise that, the accidents which are taking place because of the reckless driving all over the country, the victims do not really get justice often. Due to holding powerful position in the society the owners always try to make a settlement outside of the court in case of an accident and casualty. Sometimes the settlement is done forcefully. The law enforcement agencies also take part in the settlement and grab a good amount.
Recently the incident that shook the country, where two school students were killed due to reckless driving and according to the media reports, the owners wanted to pay Tk 20000 to the families of the victim. The mere amount screams for a revision of the complete process.
Talking about Article 32 of the constitution of People Republic of Bangladesh which stated, ‘The protection of right to life and personal liberty’- here the government is failing to protect our lives in every possible way. Our rights have been violated but still no one is paying attention from the government’s side .The whole population has become helpless because of these transport monsters.
In this scenario, we all have become hostage of the system. The careless attitude of the transport sector is actually talking away untimely lives, lives of our beloved ones. It is the high time to stand against this cruelty.
I hope that the endeavour of the students who are protesting on the roads bring a better change in the transport system for the betterment of the whole country.
Nafiul Alam Shupto is a student of North South University.
http://www.newagebd.net/article/47632/the-law-and-the-transport-monsters
The law and the transport monsters
Nafiul Alam Shupto | Published: 00:00, Aug 05,2018
From the left-Diya Khanam Mim and Abdul Karim Rajib, higher-secondary level students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment School and College, who died due to reckless bus driving on July 29, 2018 on Airport Road, Dhaka.
On July 29, 2018, a bus ploughed through a number of school students awaiting transports on the footpath on Airport road and killed two on the spot. This stirred the student community and formed a spontaneous mass movement demanding road safety. Nafiul Alam Shupto, in this scenario, talks about the existing road laws and the political reality of road transport system..
Imagine you are standing on a walkway in Dhaka and texting your friend and suddenly a public bus ploughed you along with other pedestrians. Isn’t that terrifying? Why do we have to live with this type of imagination? It is mournful when a person’s darkest fear becomes a part of their daily life. Not only in Dhaka, but all over in Bangladesh, the insanity of the public transport workers is making our life melancholic on a noticeable way.
How come our lives on roads of the capital have become so vulnerable? The reasons are the reckless driving of the public transport drivers and their insane behaviour. It has become regular news that road accidents are taking place in the capital city and people are losing their lives. There are thousands of movements, press conferences & mass media coverage against the reckless bus driving but still no one is listening to the pleas of the people. Why does this kind of attitude occur? It feels like the road transport owners-workers hold a robust position in the society as well as in the administration and the government.
The law
Sec 279 of the penal code, 1860 stated that whoever drives any vehicle, or rides, on any public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may subject to the minimum of Tk 1,000, and extend to Tk 5,000 or with both.
Again Section 304A says that ‘Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment either description for a term, which may extend to five years or with fine, or with both’.
At the same time, section 304B provides that, ‘Whoever causes the death of any person by rash or negligent driving of any vehicle or riding on any public way not amounting to culpable homicide shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both’.
On the other hand, section 143 of The Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1983 states that ‘Whoever drives a motor vehicle at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances of the case including the nature, condition and use of the place where the vehicle is driven and the amount of traffic which actually is at the time or which might reasonably be expected to be in the place, shall be punishable on a first conviction for the offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to Tk 500, and his driving license shall be suspended for a specified period, and for a subsequent offence if committed within three years of the commission of a previous similar offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand Taka, or with both, and his driving license shall be suspended for a period not exceeding one month’.
I am referring to previous laws just to show why the murderers always escape the law. Because of the ineffectiveness of the law, the murderers every time, get away with the enemies from the punishment. It is the high time we amended the law and make the law harder so that the punishment becomes severe.
The Monsters
Thousands of road accidents take place all over Bangladesh on a regular basis, still the law enforcement agencies as well as the law makers show little to no effort to minimise the casualties. I believe their carelessness is the main reason behind this reckless behaviour of the transport workers. If we look thoroughly, many leaders and owners of the transport sector holds seats in the parliament even in the cabinet. Not only the top chiefs of the transportation system, but also their associates have connections to the ruling party politics. From root level to national level, in everywhere, there are people who are involved in politics as well as have stakes in transportation business. Transport sector is one of the most common areas where the politicians and even their family members make investments. These groups of people maintain a strong syndicate so that they can easily show their muscle power and exploit the system irrespective of the betterment of the public.
If we have a look at the transport workers union they are stronger than any other existing workers’ union of Bangladesh and this leads to a high number of workers becoming even harsher. There are thousands of leaders as well as the followers in the transport sectors. If passengers get into trouble with the transport workers, there are goons stationed at different strategic points, employed by the bus companies, to fend off the situation.
Talking about the muscle power just because to make people realise that, the accidents which are taking place because of the reckless driving all over the country, the victims do not really get justice often. Due to holding powerful position in the society the owners always try to make a settlement outside of the court in case of an accident and casualty. Sometimes the settlement is done forcefully. The law enforcement agencies also take part in the settlement and grab a good amount.
Recently the incident that shook the country, where two school students were killed due to reckless driving and according to the media reports, the owners wanted to pay Tk 20000 to the families of the victim. The mere amount screams for a revision of the complete process.
Talking about Article 32 of the constitution of People Republic of Bangladesh which stated, ‘The protection of right to life and personal liberty’- here the government is failing to protect our lives in every possible way. Our rights have been violated but still no one is paying attention from the government’s side .The whole population has become helpless because of these transport monsters.
In this scenario, we all have become hostage of the system. The careless attitude of the transport sector is actually talking away untimely lives, lives of our beloved ones. It is the high time to stand against this cruelty.
I hope that the endeavour of the students who are protesting on the roads bring a better change in the transport system for the betterment of the whole country.
Nafiul Alam Shupto is a student of North South University.
http://www.newagebd.net/article/47632/the-law-and-the-transport-monsters
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