Increasing toll of frenzy driving

Under a spell of frenzy driving by bus drivers, the capital city is reeling from the toll it is taking almost on a daily basis. The latest casualty is a car driver of 26 years old, working for a power company. Since April 04 when a college student Rajib Hossain had his right hand stuck between two buses before its severance, there has been a number of accidents involving loss of limbs of the victims. Why do crimes and insanity let loose continue to repeat for quite a long period? It has happened with acid throwing (happily its spell seems to be over now), execution of fatwa against women, inhuman torture of male child, rape of underage girls and a few similar other affairs. Logically, though, people should learn a lesson from such incidents and try their best to avoid a repeat of any of those. Here the reverse appears to be the norm. Some members of society become encouraged to commit wrongs as if they enjoy the deviation.

It is no fluke or the work of spirit or the conspiracy of the heavenly bodies called constellation in astronomy -as some like to believe. In fact the criminal within gets encouraged by such dangerous acts. The drivers already have their faults and they seem to be on the lookout for newer thrill by inflicting pains to passengers or passers-by. Certainly Rajib's was not the first case in the country where two buses competing with each other or driving from opposite direction have caused a careless passenger such physical dismemberment. But Rajib was the first such victim in recent memory, who succumbed to his injury in the city. Then other drivers seem to be emulating his feat as if it is an honour! How roguish!

That the drivers of public buses in the city are becoming mindless is clear from the latest spate of accidents. It has been alleged that the car driver was intentionally ran over by the coach driver. Many of the drivers' behaviour shows they do not have the minimum consideration for human life. Parentless Rajib had to look after his two younger brothers. Others falling victims to the mindless driving spree have similar stories to tell. The impact of the loss of the breadwinner of a family is devastating. There is no guarantee that one such driver would not become a victim himself one day if the rash driving spree continues.

Things cannot go like this in a capital city or in the country. The road transport sector is in disarray -whether on the city roads or on the networks of roads and highways all across the country. If the law enforcers and political elements continue to collect illegal tolls amounting to fabulous sums from the transport sector, they have no one to fear. They know they hardly run the risk of languishing behind the bar. Their mentors will save them. When laws of the land are thus rendered useless, drivers will not feel inclined to mend their ways. If the political leadership is serious about bringing discipline to the sector, it must first of all demolish the tripartite nexus among transport operators, a section of law enforcers and political activists.