Unfit for duty

A vast number of vehicles plying our roads are not fit to do so, therefore pose a serious risk to human life.

Among the plethora of problems that exist in our country’s road system, the issue of unfit vehicles is among the more manageable ones; hence it becomes all the more concerning when we realize that more than 70,000 vehicles have not had their fitness certificates renewed in the last 10 years.

In light of the recent student protests for safer roads, and the promises made by the government over a similar movement last year, it would behove the administration to stop resting on its laurels and take care of this issue once and for all.

Unfit vehicles, especially ones which have not have their certificates renewed in over a decade, are a major reason behind road accidents in Bangladesh -- a staggeringly high number of CNG-driven auto-rickshaws, private cars, buses, trucks, and human hauliers have had no fitness checks carried out on them over the last 10 years.

These vehicles pose a danger to the life of every citizen in the country, as they are statistically proven to increase the probability of road accidents at any given moment.

With the issue of road safety front and centre for the country in light of recent fatalities, it is time for the government to step up and show that it cares about the safety of its citizens, and is prepared to take stern action against offenders of fitness rules.

Cancelling the registrations of unfit vehicles and taking them off the streets, then, is a very necessary first step.