Touhid Hossain Sarkar: The government must be held accountable for its failure to prevent road accidents during Eid. Advocate Atiqur Rahman, central president of the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation, said this while delivering a speech as the chief guest while providing assistance to the families affected by the horrific road accident in Tangail at Rajendrabati in Manda upazila of Naogaon district.
He said that although the tragic road accident occurred very close to Eid, he regretted that he could not be present immediately due to communication limitations. However, immediately after the incident, he contacted the families of the victims and the Workers’ Welfare Federation took steps to stand by them as soon as possible.
Advocate Atiqur Rahman said, all those killed in the road accident were working people. It is the moral and organizational responsibility of the Workers’ Welfare Federation to stand by their families. He prayed to Allah Almighty and said, may Allah accept the deceased as martyrs, forgive all their sins and grant them the highest status in Paradise.
The central president of the federation said, the pain of losing a relative is one of the hardest realities in the world. A child who has lost his father will never get the love and affection of a father again. A mother who has lost her child will never hear the loving call of her child again. And a wife who has lost her husband will have to embark on a new struggle and take responsibility for building the future of her children. He expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families and prayed to Allah Almighty for their patience and strength.
He said, it is very sad that even during a joyous time like Eid, the country’s roads have not become safe for the common people. Last Ramadan, many people lost their lives in road accidents during Eid. Despite the demand to ensure road safety, many people have been victims of accidents during Eid-ul-Azha. Due to the mismanagement and weakness in the country’s road management, the common people, especially the working class, are constantly being affected the most.
He further said that due to low income and festival-related surcharges, many workers are forced to travel in risky modes of transport. Especially, workers working in various sectors including garments are subjected to extreme suffering along with their families. Instead of increasing fares, the state should have taken effective initiatives to make people’s travel easier and safer during festivals.
Calling on the government and the concerned authorities, he said that it is the responsibility of the state to ensure discipline and safety on the country’s roads. The lives and safety of workers should be given utmost importance. He mentioned that many of the deceased were the sole breadwinners in their families. The death of such a worker plunges sick parents, wives and children into extreme uncertainty.
Addressing local public representatives, he said that government allocations should be spent for the welfare of the people. It is necessary to come forward to ensure rehabilitation, housing, medical treatment and livelihood arrangements for the families affected by the accident.
He said to the local MP, “We know you have already received a lot of allocation. If you are a people-friendly MP, then come and inquire about them. Let them continue their lives, if they do not have a house, make arrangements to build a house. You will take the responsibility of fully supporting these families. The MP must take this responsibility. The state allocation of the MP will be for the people. There is no opportunity to fill your pockets with state allocation. We hope that you will set an example by taking responsibility for this Manda area that you are a friend of the people. There is no point in talking nonsense without being a true friend of the people.”
He also called on various social, humanitarian and charitable organizations to take coordinated initiatives to solve the long-term problems of the families affected by the accident.
Advocate Atiqur Rahman said that the Workers’ Welfare Federation will try to stand by the affected workers’ families despite its limited capacity. He admitted that although the organization’s capacity is limited, they have come to inquire about the bereaved families out of love and responsibility towards the workers. If there is an opportunity in the future, he will personally visit the homes of the affected families to learn about their situation and assure them of cooperation.
A financial assistance program was held at Rajendrabati in Manda Upazila of Naogaon district at 10 am on Thursday, June 4, among the 10 family members who died and 5 families who were injured in the “terrible road accident in Tangail on the morning of May 25”.
District Jamaat Ameer Khandaker Md. Abdur Rakib, Central Vice President of Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation Golam Rabbani, Central Deputy General Secretary Abdus Sabur and President of Naogaon District Workers’ Welfare Federation Md. Nasir Uddin were present as special guests.
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