Sordid tale of a lake
We need some answers
EVERY good action is rendered meaningless unless its effects are constantly monitored and guarantees are in place about follow-up measures needing to be taken. That, however, does not seem to be happening in a whole lot of areas in this country. One has only to go back to the three front-page pictures of the Suvadda lake in Keraniganj appearing in Thursday's issue of this newspaper. Like so many other water bodies and other public places that have gone clean out of public hands through encroachment of various sorts, this lake was a source of worry for citizens back in 2005. It was so because a dumping of waste and rubbish had as good as caused the death of the lake.
But then something of a cheering note happened nearly three years later. In June 2008, environmentalists in particular and citizens in general celebrated the revival of the lake, an achievement brought about through the efforts of the caretaker government then in office. It was the public expectation that thenceforth the lake would flow uninterrupted and to the satisfaction of the residents of the area. That, unfortunately, was not to be. Observe the third picture this newspaper printed yesterday. The old dismal scene of garbage clogging the lake is back in place. The desolation we thought had gone for good three years ago has returned and the authorities are blissfully unaware of what has happened.
Our question now is simple: if this is the fate befalling Suvadda lake, are we to suppose that whatever public resources or property have so far been retrieved from individuals and groups of insidious intent will go back to square one? Given the indifference of the authorities, they may and perhaps they will. Even so, may we ask those authorities why they have been remiss in doing their job and what they mean to do now that they have been shamed publicly? We wait for answers.
Highway safety concern
Take WHO report seriously
RISING toll of fatalities due to road mishaps has impelled the world Health Organisation (WHO) to launch a road safety programme- internationally. Admittedly, Bangladesh's highways are highly accident-prone with a casualty figure at 5, 000 annually according to the government estimate. But the figure provided by the WHO is three to four times higher. The gap in figures is attributable to the fact that many fatal road accidents often go unreported.
Ours are among the most accident-prone highways in the world. And the death toll on the roads beats the fatalities from malaria. Now that the issue has caught a UN body's attention, it is expected that the government would draw on its programme to enhance public awareness about road safety as well as take effective measures to reduce the growing number of deaths on highways.
Before addressing the concern, the first step would be to identify the primary causes of fatal accidents. The WHO has focussed more on the physical flaws in infrastructures. The roads and highways with their inherent construction defects, narrow width and too many twists and turns are undoubtedly a major source of accidents. Redesigning and reconstructing the defective roads with the help of UN programme will contribute significantly towards ensuring road safety. At the same time, raising the awareness level of the road users, especially of the drivers, passengers and pedestrians is also a major area of concern. Skill of the drivers and condition of the vehicles running on the roads also demand serious attention given that there are many inexperienced drivers with fake licences and unfit transports.
Costs of treating and rehabilitating the seriously injured victims are an issue. Damage to property, lost output, medical and human costs eat up around 1.5 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according a government estimate. The cumulative impact of the road mishaps makes it a very vital area of national concern and must be addressed in earnest.
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