A human chain was formed in the city demanding safe roads, highways and waterways and also resignation of communications minister and shipping minister.
Expressing grave concern over alarming rise in number of deaths on roads due to accidents speakers at the demonstration demanded safety of pedestrians.
They also demanded withdrawal of rotation system in Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal routes.
The speakers lamented that those, responsible for causing accidents on roads and highways are going scot-free due to loopholes in existing laws.
'People responsible for accidents should stand trial and illegal rotation system in Barisal-Dhaka-Barisal routes must be withdrawn', they said.
Presided over by Nazrul Islam Chunnu, president of Barisal Sangskritik Sangathan Samonnoy Parishad, Barisal Press Club president Manabendra Batabayan, president of Barisal Reporters Unity Sushanto Ghosh, president of Barisal division chapter Group Theatre Federation Syed Dulal, secretary of the division unit College Teachers Association Principal Mohsinul Islam, president School Teachers Association of Barisal Habul Das Gupta, member-secretary of Nagorik Samaj Mizanur Rahman,, AK Azad of CPB, Abdul Hye Mahbub of JSD, Shanti Das of WP, Kazal Gohsh of Sector Commanders Forum and Ashish Kumar, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The speakers called for resignation of communications minister Abul Hossain and shipping minister Shajahan Khan for their failure to take step to repair roads and ensure safe water ways.
Demanding immediate step to stop accidents they called for transparency and accountability in management and maintenance of roads and highways to curb traffic accidents.
They also called upon the authority concerned to identify accident-prone areas across the country and mark those as danger 'zones'.
The participants viewed that people involved in irregularities and corruption in road construction, repair and maintenance should be arrested and punished.
They suggested forming of investigation committees with honest and sincere persons so that probe into mishaps would be done properly and the guilty people will be identified and nabbed.
Demanding safety in waterways they urged the government to dredge rivers and canals and take step against overloading in water vehicles.
They also demanded measures to stop issuance of fake driving licenses and plying of unfit vehicles on roads.
Source : New Age
