Urgent Measures Needed to Prevent Robbery, Snatching, Accidents, and Traffic Congestion During Eid Journey – Passenger Welfare Association.
With the mass movement of people during the Eid holidays, addressing the severe shortage of public transport and ensuring a hassle-free and safe journey for passengers is crucial, stated Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, Secretary-General of the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh (PWAB) or Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS).
Speaking at a discussion titled “Preventing Robbery, Snatching, Road Accidents, and Traffic Congestion During Eid Journey” organized by PWAB at the Dhaka Reporters Unity’s CRAB Auditorium this morning, he emphasized the need for proper planning of the extended holiday period to reduce passenger suffering. He urged authorities to ensure that factories and garment workers receive their salaries and bonuses by March 24, enabling them to travel home in phases and avoid excessive pressure on transport systems.
Mass Movement of Passengers and Safety Concerns:
PWAB estimates that around 15 million people will travel from Dhaka and surrounding districts to their home towns during Eid. An additional 30 to 35 million passengers will travel between districts across the country, with 75% using roads, 17% waterways, and 8% railways. To prevent passenger harassment, excessive fares, robberies, snatchings, and accidents, coordinated efforts from all relevant stakeholders are essential.
According to BPWA observations, during the last Eid-ul-Fitr, there were 399 road accidents, resulting in 407 deaths and 1,398 injuries. Over the past nine years, Eid-ul-Fitr alone has witnessed 2,377 accidents, causing 2,714 deaths and 7,420 injuries. PWAB urges transport owners’ associations, labor federations, police, and BRTA to take immediate action to curb such accidents this year.
Key Safety Concerns:
· 83% of rail coaches and 60% of locomotives are outdated.
· 82% of railway crossings remain unprotected, increasing risks of derailments and collisions.
· Ticket scalping, passenger harassment at terminals, and excessive fares continue to be major issues.
Stakeholder Responses and Recommendations:
· Transport Owners’ Association: The Secretary-General, Md. Saiful Alam, emphasized that mismanagement and poor government planning contribute to passenger suffering and accidents. He assured that transport owners would strictly monitor fare collection.
· Transport Workers’ Federation: President Abdur Rahim Bux Dudu called for controlling battery-run three-wheelers and small vehicles and promised full cooperation in resolving passenger grievances.
· BRTA: Director Md. Shahidullah announced stricter enforcement against unfit vehicles and excessive fares, with vigilance teams operating in all 64 districts, including representatives from PWAB.
· Highway Police: DIG Operations Md. Shafiqul Islam revealed that 1,443 highway robbers have been identified, and 340 operation teams are deployed across 3,900 km of national highways. Passengers were advised to keep hotline numbers for emergency assistance with in 15 minuets.
PWAB’s Urgent Recommendations:
1. Strict measures to prevent unfit vehicles from operating during Eid.
2. Mandatory use of standard helmets and protective gear for motorcyclists, with restrictions on carrying luggage.
3. Stringent actions to prevent fare hikes, with BPWA representatives included in vigilance teams.
4. Removal of unauthorized vehicles (e-bikes, auto-rickshaws, etc.) from highways 10 days before Eid to reduce congestion.
5. Deployment of additional toll plaza staff to prevent artificial traffic jams.
6. Highway police and intelligence agencies should focus on preventing robberies rather than checking vehicle documents during the Eid rush.
7. Stronger law enforcement actions against snatchers, ticket scalpers, and passenger harassment.
The discussion was attended by former Election Commission Secretary Dr. Muhammad Zakaria, Women’s Rights Activist and Educator Rafika Afroz, PWAB’s Publicity Secretary Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and Student Representative Rezaul Islam among others.
– Duranta Desk
