Jatri Kalyan Samiti has called for a ban on unfit vehicles operating on roads, railways, and waterways during the upcoming Eid travel to reduce accidents, traffic congestion, and public inconvenience.
The demand was raised by the association’s Secretary General Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury in a statement issued on Thursday.
Chowdhury highlighted that during Eid, a large number of unfit vehicles, including buses, trucks, human haulers (legunas), three-wheelers (tempos), microbuses, private cars, and locally assembled vehicles like Nasimon-Karimon, are used for long-distance passenger transportation. He also pointed out that expired water vessels and outdated railway coaches, engines, and tracks contribute to frequent accidents and delays, putting passengers at risk.
Referring to the previous year's Eid-ul-Fitr statistics, he mentioned that 399 road accidents resulted in 407 fatalities and 1,398 injuries. In the railway sector, 18 accidents led to 24 deaths and 21 injuries, while two waterway accidents caused seven deaths and five injuries.
To prevent similar incidents this year, the Samiti urged the government to implement extensive preventive measures and increase public awareness. The statement also revealed that around 500,000 vehicles nationwide currently lack fitness certificates, and additional concerns were raised about electric three-wheelers, CNG-run auto-rickshaws, battery-powered rickshaws, Nasimon-Karimon vehicles, and motorcycles, which contribute to severe traffic jams and slow down long-distance buses.
The association called on authorities to immediately remove these unfit vehicles from national highways. It also urged law enforcement and regulatory bodies to take action against illegal encroachments on roads to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Addressing security concerns, Chowdhury emphasized the need for increased efforts from law enforcement agencies to combat crimes such as snatching, pickpocketing, and doping gangs. He also stressed the importance of enhanced intelligence surveillance and stronger security measures to ensure the safety of travelers during the Eid rush.
