More people die in road accidents than in many wars

Renowned actor Ilias Kanchan has been leading the “Nirapad Sarak Chai” (We Demand Safe Roads) movement for the past 31 years. His persistent efforts have led to the declaration of “National Safe Road Day” in Bangladesh. He has often been seen personally raising awareness among drivers on the streets. However, have his campaigns brought significant improvements? If not, why? What keeps our roads unsafe? Ilias Kanchan recently discussed these issues with Views Bangladesh. The interview was conducted by Girish Gairic, Associate Editor of Views Bangladesh.

Views Bangladesh: You’ve been campaigning for safe roads since 1993, spanning BNP, Awami League, caretaker, and now interim governments. Why do you still have to fight for this cause, and why haven’t our roads become safer yet? Does this mean no government has been sincere about road safety?

Ilias Kanchan: You’ve spoken my mind. Honestly, I haven’t seen a single government truly own the issue of road safety. I’ve repeatedly voiced this on television, in newspapers, and talk shows. If they had taken responsibility, I wouldn’t have had to fight for 31 years. If the government had been conscious and sincere about road safety, we wouldn’t have seen this massive loss of life, injuries, and disabilities caused by road accidents.

From my participation in international seminars, it’s clear that road crashes cannot be reduced unless the government takes deliberate action. Many necessary steps fall exclusively within the government’s jurisdiction. Governments often hesitate because of fear—fear of the transport sector’s influence. These transport groups go on strikes, halt transportation, and disrupt the economy, raising prices and inconveniencing people. Opposition parties often exploit these situations.

This fear has existed since the Ershad regime. Both the Awami League and BNP mobilized transport workers against Ershad’s government to bring it down. This fear lingers in every ruling party's mind: if they enact and enforce stricter laws, the opposition might weaponize the situation.

That’s why I’ve consistently approached both ruling and opposition parties, asking them to treat this as a national issue. Road accidents are taking more lives than even wars. According to United Nations data, approximately 31,000 people die every year in road accidents in Bangladesh. That’s more than many wars. Yet, there’s no reliable local data. Gathering such data is the government’s responsibility, but they neglect it.

Views Bangladesh: Why don’t political parties come together on this national issue?

Ilias Kanchan: I’ve asked them the same. I’ve urged opposition parties to support the government on this matter if they introduce laws to ensure safe roads. Unfortunately, they’ve never cooperated. In our country, the government and opposition never reach a consensus on any issue, even national ones. Globally, nations unite on issues of national interest. For instance, India remains unified against propaganda, even when facing internal political differences.

But we haven’t achieved such unity. That’s why I’ve had to struggle for 31 years. I hoped the interim government would prioritize this issue, just as political parties united against India's propaganda. If they could agree on safe roads, we could achieve it. Otherwise, it’s impossible.

Views Bangladesh: Is it possible to establish safe roads without government cooperation?

Ilias Kanchan: No, it isn’t. Why not? Most vehicles in Bangladesh are imported through the Ministry of Commerce. The agencies managing roads don’t coordinate with the Ministry of Commerce to decide what type of vehicles suit our roads. This lack of coordination means everyone operates independently.

For example, locally produced Nasimons and Karimons (informal vehicles) are allowed on the roads with approval from the Ministry of Industry. Battery-powered rickshaws operate under their authorization too, leading to frequent accidents. The Ministry of Industry shows no concern about these risks.

Views Bangladesh: What role do law enforcement agencies play in this?

Ilias Kanchan: There’s a strained relationship between the police, who manage traffic, and city corporations, which oversee traffic signals. Millions are spent installing digital traffic lights, but maintenance falls under the police. Police often disregard them, thinking the city corporation officials have taken the money. As a result, even with digital traffic signals, police still manually direct traffic, causing confusion among drivers and pedestrians.

This mismatch in understanding has led to 20 years of misinformation. Correcting it will require at least another five years of continuous effort. The corruption, disorganization, and mafia-like control of the transport sector make roads unsafe. Activists like us cannot solve this. It’s the government’s responsibility.

Views Bangladesh: What steps can the government take to ensure road safety?

Ilias Kanchan: The government needs to develop safer roads, ensure proper vehicle standards, and provide training for drivers, many of whom lack proper skills. Without good roads, vehicles, and responsible traffic management, no matter how long we try, we won’t achieve road safety. The government must prioritize this.

For instance, allowing battery-operated rickshaws on the roads has created a mess with nearly 6–7 million vehicles. Now, even the government struggles to regulate them because protests erupt whenever regulations are introduced.

Views Bangladesh: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government spent millions to tackle the crisis. Road accidents are like a pandemic in Bangladesh, yet the government doesn’t prioritize them. Why?

Ilias Kanchan: The lack of accountability over the past 15–16 years has allowed governments to act without consequence. When there’s no accountability, they only pursue their interests, ignoring public welfare.

Views Bangladesh: You’ve consistently criticized transport owners' anarchy. Have you faced challenges for your activism?

Ilias Kanchan: Yes, the challenges come from transport sector leaders who thrive on the chaos. These so-called leaders incite ordinary transport workers and owners for their gain. They don’t want workers’ living standards to improve or their sense of responsibility to grow.

If proper training was given, many accidents could have been prevented. But these leaders convince drivers that they’ll protect them, no matter how severe the accident. Furthermore, illegal toll collection benefits the government, making it complicit.

They also propagate the notion that accidents are acts of fate, saying, "It’s God’s will." But road accidents are human-made disasters caused by negligence. If people adhered to rules, such tragedies wouldn’t occur.