FARIDPUR, Apr 16 (UNB): The cycle of road tragedies and inaction continues in Faridpur for various limitations and excuses.
Despite a string of deadly road accidents in the past two years, none of the recommendations made by official investigation committees have been implemented-leaving families devastated and the public demanding accountability.
Between 2023 and 2024, three major accidents occurred in the district, all around the Eid holidays, claiming 29 lives and injuring over 100 people.
Each incident prompted the district administration to form investigation committees.
But, their suggestions-ranging from improved speed control to vehicle fitness checks-have remained on paper, ignored by the authorities concerned.
One such incident took place on June 24, 2023, when an ambulance lost control on the Banga-Maligram expressway and caught fire, killing eight people, including women and children.
In response, a six-member committee headed by then Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Bipul Chandra Das submitted a report two days later.
The committee's recommendations included: installation of CCTV on highways, a ban on unfit vehicles, monitoring by highway police at key locations, enforcing driver's licence verification, installation of speed detectors and mandating speed governors in vehicles.
Yet, to date, none of these measures have been implemented.
A year later, on April 08, 2025, another tragic accident involved a bus lacking a valid fitness certificate.
The driver, who reportedly had no verified licence, fled the scene.
Back on April16, 2024, a collision between a bus and a pickup in Kanairpur left 14 people dead, including women and children.
A seven-member committee was subsequently formed, led by then ADM Mohammad Ali Siddiqui. Submitted on April 21, the report called for, among other measures, the control of auto-rickshaws on highways-a recommendation that remains unheeded.
This is despite a standing High Court directive to restrict auto-rickshaws from operating on highways, which remains blatantly ignored.
When questioned about the lack of highway control cameras and checkposts, Superintendent of Madaripur Highway Police, Shahinur Alam, pointed to institutional limitations.
