Dhaka, July 30 (Just News): Describing the demand made by the students and netizens for his resignation as illogical, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan on Monday said he has taken many steps to curb road accidents.
“Students can demand my resignation. Will my removal resolve the problem of persisting road accidents?” he said while talking to reporters at his Secretariat office.
Shajahan, also the Executive President of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation, said he will definitely quit if his resignation helps resolve the problem. “But everyone should keep in mind the progress I’ve so far made from my position.”
Mentioning that transport workers had been victims of political unrest in 2012, 2013 and 2015, he said the students did not play any role in preventing deaths at that time.
The minister said he had united the transport workers during those days, inspiring them to carry on their duties at the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, though 1,000 buses and 3,000 private vehicles were torched during the periods.
Asked about rendering apology for his Sunday’s remarks about accidents, he ruled out it, saying those responsible for causing Sunday’s accidents should apologise.
But Shajahan expressed his great sorrow and regret over Sunday’s accident as the president of the sector’s workers’ federation.
He urged the students not to be worried as he believes they will be happy with the steps the government will take in this regard.
About the cancellation of route permit of ‘Jabal-e-Noor Paribahan’ buses, the minister said the government will decide and act accordingly.
Asked about the involvement of his brother-in-law and family members with ‘Jabal-e-Noor’ business, he refuted it, saying five years back, his brother-in-law was one of 12 directors of the transport company but later he quit.
Shajahan further said due to repeated meetings with transport owners, accidents have decreased than ever before, and will decrease further.
In the last three and a half years, there was no launch accident, he said. “If I can experience such a success with the river transports, I can emulate a similar feat with the road transport with the support of Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.”
Both the ministries formed a committee with Professor Anwar Hossain of Dhaka University as its head to research on how to prevent road accidents and the committee has put forward 85 recommendations, most of which are gradually being implemented, such as road dividers and four-lane roads, he said.
Shajahan said the government might be successful in reducing the accident rates but it will not be possible to prevent it altogether.
He said a meeting with the bus owners is slated to be held on Tuesday to further discuss preventive measures.
On Sunday, a bus ploughed through some college students as they were standing by the road in front of Kurmitola General Hospital, leaving two dead and nine others injured.
(Justnews/ys/2120hr)
