Ensuring safety of flyover users

Several flyovers have been set up in Dhaka city to quicken our movement. And we are reaping benefits from these flyovers as we can reach our destinations in just 15 to 20 minutes taking these flyovers where it used to take an hour to reach the same destination by regular route. It has also eased the sufferings caused by traffic jam. However, these flyovers are not safe to use particularly at night. For example, we can mention the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover. Inaugurated in 2013, this important flyover reportedly claimed a total of 137 lives as of 2022. And most of these deaths have been caused by accidents and snatching. Malibagh flyover has exceptional traffic signal system. The situation compounds in the night when the absence of proper lighting exacerbates the risk, leading to frequent occurrences of accidents. No flyover in Dhaka city is patrolled by law enforcement agencies. So, they have become a safe place for snatchers, drug addicts and criminals.

Recent incidents of snatching on flyovers have increased. And inadequate lighting on the flyovers is one of the reasons behind most of these snatching occurrences. In August 2019, robbers strangled a ride-sharing driver to death on the Malibagh flyover. In another incident in April 2020, a private university student was murdered by robbers. Recently on August 9, a printing press worker fell victim to a robbery on the Moghbazar flyover while travelling from Malibagh to Mirpur. Arranging adequate streetlights is the duty of the city corporation. However, the local government body is not doing anything to arrange streetlights along the flyovers. The police should pay attention to both flyovers and the roads below them and start working to curtail incidents of theft, robbery, and snatching within Dhaka city to ensure safety of the flyover users.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

ilcbd2008@gmail.com