The just-concluded Eid festival in April marked a grim milestone with a record number of road traffic accidents and casualties. According to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, between April 4 and 18, there were at least 407 fatalities and 1,398 injuries from 399 road accidents. This represents an alarming increase, with crashes and deaths up by nearly 25 percent compared to last year. Even more concerning is that injuries have more than doubled, as reported by the passenger rights group. The government, however,reported figures which were considerably lower - with an average of 19 deaths and 17 accidents per day, still higher than in previous years. Recently, Prothom Alo reported that over six lakh vehicles across the country are operating without fitness certificates, making it illegal for them to be on the roads. Citing the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), the report indicated that out of approximately 60 lakh vehicles in the country, around 44 lakh motorcycles are exempt...

  Hearing the ruling party’s general secretary say that the BNP's October 28 rally in the capital would face a similar reaction as did the one on December 10, we can now gauge what the intention of the government is. Perhaps, many of us have already started adjusting our diaries, out of fear of violence or to avoid harassment in the name of heightened security. The possibility of another unannounced shutdown ( better to be called a hartal enforced by the supporters of the ruling party) may also encourage them to leave Dhaka simply to avoid any additional sufferings.  The warning given to the opposition BNP by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for its expressed intent is undoubtedly worrying and deplorable. On the other hand, it is also an admission that the government did crack down on the opposition on December 7, 2022, for which they had so far put the blame on the BNP’s alleged subversive activities.  Many questions still remain unanswered as to why the gov...