For safe travel on roads and highways

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The country's networks of roads and highways have expanded a great deal over the last three decades. Compared to the pre-independence period, the network of highways all over the country has now become extensive. Especially, the road networks have much expanded during the last five years. There was a significant boom in road building activities under the immediate past government. As a result, the mobility of people has also increased. People now prefer travelling on highways or on the inter-district roads to other means of travel through river routes or railways.
But the expansion of the roads has also created traffic pressures on them. The situation requires scrupulous observance of traffic rules and regulations. The response to this situation was the raising and putting into operation of a new corps of policemen by the previous government for policing the entire length of the highways. But the tasks of providing them with enough logistical supports for the purpose such as vehicles, check posts and other equipment have not been completed. Needless to say, the caretaker government and the one to succeed it should aim to complete these tasks to get optimum benefits from the expansion road networks.
To ensure safe condition on the highways means addressing multi-faceted problems. Overloaded vehicles that cause road accidents from brake failures are only a part of the hazard on the highways. There are many others, some formidable in nature, that need to be addressed on urgent basis. For instance, one only has to look at the number of highway robberies within the span of a year to realise how serious an issue it is for the travelling public. They cannot avoid using this convenient transportation system, but many of them become the target of robbers, especially while travelling at night. Then, the ferry points and the ferries are not properly supervised. Accidents are also caused by tattered conditions of roads that have been left for long without the necessary repairs. The highway policemen, as they are gradually enabled and furnished with provision of logistical supports, they should be engaged more and more to maintain vigil on the highways against these hazards.
In many foreign countries, one usually finds resting spots on the sides of highways. These have motels, restaurants and other facilities needed by travelling people. Such resting points are also coming up along the lengths of the national highways in Bangladesh. But their number is still limited. The existing resting points and services in them are also cropping up without a plan and without care for good appearance, hygiene and aesthetic aspects. The relevant ministry should promote the setting up of more resting points along the highways and should also regulate proper development of these venues with an eye to the above aspects.
Asheque Ali
Mohammadpur, Dhaka