Bangladesh: Protest on the Dhaka-Mawa highway January 31

Event

In the morning (local time) of Thursday, January 31, hundreds of students and local residents formed a human chain and temporarily disrupted traffic on the Dhaka-Mawa highway, near Rejendrapur (South Keraniganj), to demand the immediate arrest of the truck driver responsible for the death of two young students few days earlier.

Context

In 2017, over 4200 people were killed and 9000 others injured in 3472 road accidents across Bangladesh. According to the authorities, most of the accidents were due to the dangerous driving habits of heavy vehicle - including buses and trucks - drivers. The increase in small vehicles, the competition among drivers, and the lack of awareness among pedestrians, are also pointed out.

Advice

Individuals in Bangladesh are advised to remain vigilant when driving due to poor vehicle and driving conditions.