Road hazard in Bangladesh: Obstacle to achieve the SDGs?
Rumi Akter, Research Assistant (Int’l Affairs), Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs
Casualties on the roads of Bangladesh have recently been increasing in an unprecedented manner. According to the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), at least 4,284 people, including 516 women and 539 children, were killed and 9,112 others injured in 3,472 road accidents across the country in 2017. While studying the last 10 years’ data of road accident and casualties from 2009 to 2016, it has been found that the number of deaths and injured in those years was in a range of 1400 to 2900 and 1200 to 2600 respectively. However, the number suddenly rose to a very high in number in the last year, tallying the death toll to 4,284 and 9,112 injured.
The NCPSRR mentioned nine major reasons for the accidents and casualties. The Motor Vehicles Ordinance of 1983 is probably the oldest legal entity in Bangladesh regarding the issue of roads and transports. It encompasses the rules and regulations from issuing a driving license to the punishment of specific breaching of certain rules. However, in the recent student movement demanding safety on roads, we have seen that there was reluctance amongst the people (even a high-ranking govt. official) to not carry their driving licenses. Unfortunately, all of our political regimes have failed to implement this legal entity.
The annual economic cost of Bangladesh from road accident is circa TK 5,000 crore or US$ 850 million. Hence, it can be well assumed that this kind of economic loss will hinder Bangladesh’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.
All initiatives taken so far will go in vain if Bangladesh fails to achieve any of the 17 goals of SDG. Research shows that Bangladesh can experience economic growth of up to 13% from the average 6%, if it is freed from the gridlock situation on the roads.
Every political regime of Bangladesh should prioritize the issue of road fatalities and take proper initiative to maintain regularities on the roads. The laws regarding roads, transports and punishments should also be implemented in a proper way. Only then it will be easier for Bangladesh to achieve all of the SDGs under the agenda 2030.