Unheeded Warnings: Faridpur road crash probes offer no real change
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.
A Pattern of Neglect
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 24 June 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
*Mandating speed governors in vehicles
Yet, to date, none of these measures have been implemented.
A year later, on 8 April 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 16 April 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 21 April, 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.
Excuses and Limitations
When questioned about the lack of highway control cameras and checkposts, Superintendent of Madaripur Highway Police, Shahinur Alam, pointed to institutional limitations.
“The Highway Police have no authority to install control cameras on the expressway,” he said.
He also cited resource shortages: “We face a severe manpower shortage. There is also a shortage of vehicles. With this limited manpower, it is difficult to establish checkposts at multiple locations.”
Faridpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Kamrul Hasan Mollah explained, “Recommendations are generally of two types—those that can be implemented immediately and those requiring coordination with various agencies. Without a collective effort, implementing these recommendations is difficult.”
He added that the current investigation committee’s findings, along with past unimplemented suggestions, would be reviewed.
“A meeting will be called with relevant government and private agencies, bus owners, and workers to assign responsibilities for implementation,” the DC said.
Speed Limiters Still a Distant Dream
Among the earlier recommendations was a proposal for nationwide installation of speed-limiting devices in vehicles through the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
Faridpur BRTA Assistant Director Md Nasir Uddin, however, said no such initiative currently exists. “The BRTA has no such initiative to install speed-controlling devices in all vehicles,” he admitted.
Public Frustration Grows
The ongoing disregard for safety measures and official recommendations has sparked frustration among local citizens.
Advocate Shipra Goswami, Senior Vice-President of the Faridpur Conscious Citizens Committee (Sanak), said, “If the responsible authorities within the state machinery had performed their duties properly, many issues would have been resolved easily.”
“No one wants to lose lives prematurely. Drivers, passengers, and all road users must act responsibly for road safety. Local administration, highway police, road transport authorities, and BRTA officials must perform their duties patriotically. Only then can many irregularities be prevented," she added.
As families continue to mourn and accidents recur with haunting regularity, Faridpur’s roads stand as a grim reminder of promises made—but never kept.