The authorities concerned, including police and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority cannot avoid the responsibility of the Faridpur road accident on Dhaka-Khulna highway that claimed lives of 14 people on Tuesday, said National Committee to protect Shipping, Roads and Railways.
Condemning the authorities’ negligence, the NCPSRR said that although carrying passengers on trucks, pick-up vans and good- laden vehicles was prohibited, the pick-up van was heading towards Dhaka from Faridpur’s Boalmari with 25-30 passengers on board.
It also demanded compensation for the family members of the deceased and better treatment for the victims injured in the accident and their rehabilitation after treatment.
NCPSRR president Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashish Kumar Day expressed profound shock at the death of the people and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Earlier in the day, at least 14 people died and 15 others were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a pickup van on the Dhaka-Khulna highway at Sadar upazila in Faridpur district.
All the victims were passengers of the pickup van, and four of them were from the same family.
The accident occurred when the Magura-bound bus of Unique Paribahan from Dhaka collided with the Dhaka-bound pickup van.
Eleven people died on the spot, and three died after being taken to the hospital. The injured were taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College in Faridpur.