Authorities must take responsibility for accident

The management of the construction project of the elevated expressway in the capital has been repeatedly questioned due to the lack of proper safety and security measures. Two construction workers and a pedestrian have already lost their lives in accidents related to this project. Experts are consistently pointing out that these incidents are not just accidents but rather a clear demonstration of the authorities' negligence, carelessness, and ultimate failure to ensure adequate safety measures.

Ensuring safety and security measures is imperative in construction work. It should be ensured both before starting the work and during its execution. However, due to the lack of adequate safety and security measures in the elevated expressway project, another fatal accident occurred last Thursday (February 8), where a construction worker was killed by a falling container. Additionally, within two days, equipment from the expressway fell, claiming the lives of two more individuals. Prior to this, on Wednesday (February 7), a pedestrian named Matiur Rahman lost his life due to a falling iron rod from the expressway in the Dilu Road area of Moghbazar.

On May 29 last year, another child was killed when a rod fell from the construction site of the expressway in Banani. Prior to the recent incident, on August 15, 2022, in the construction of the flyover on Jashimuddin Road in Uttara, five people, including two children, were killed when the guardrail collapsed, sparking nationwide criticism. Therefore, demands have been raised across the country to conduct construction work with adequate safety measures and to compensate the families of the victims.

In the past, we have seen that when such incidents occur, responsibility is often pinned solely on the contracting firm of the project. However, this responsibility does not only lie with the contracting firm but also with the road transport and highways department, local government engineering department (LGED), and the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, who are involved in the project. Without their involvement, any such accidents lead to blame-shifting and a flurry of activity. Large investigation committees are formed, cases are filed against the responsible parties, but no progress is made, and appropriate punitive measures are not taken against the responsible individuals. No one accepts responsibility, which is extremely regrettable for the country.

So, we think that incidents resulting in loss of lives like this cannot be merely termed as accidents. In this regard, it is desirable to take more people-friendly and effective initiatives to ensure safe and normal movement of people on the roads. Ignoring road safety in construction work in a densely populated environment and not holding the authorities accountable for such accidents in any way will not help!

Ensuring the safety of every citizen's life is the responsibility of the state. In that context, it is natural to expect that road safety will be prioritized during major construction projects. Therefore, if those responsible for such projects cannot be held accountable before the law and if appropriate measures, including significant financial penalties, are not taken against them, then it raises questions about whether accidents will ever cease.