Authorities' uncaring attitude

For the fifteen million or so people who call Dhaka their home, life is never short of unpleasant surprises. From rickety buses that should have been taken off the roads decades ago to foot over bridges with gaping holes are just some of the accidents waiting to happen. Two pictures printed in the November 12 edition of this paper caught our attention. The first shows a passenger's leg proudly on display from the back of a bus which had an entire panel simply missing. The other depicts a wondrous gaping hole smack down in the middle of a foot over bridge between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Birdem Hospital in Dhaka.

In the former case, we wonder whether it ever catches the eye of BRTA or those on police duty that we have passenger buses running around merrily without giving two hoots about their fitness. And in the latter, the gaping hole in the metal floor of a foot over bridge that services hundreds, if not thousands, of commuters could easily turn into a death trap for the unwary. Even if someone managed not to fall through, the rusty metal could and would cause grievous injury. 

This paper has been crying hoarse for years on the apathy displayed by authorities on various problems faced by Dhaka residents. But the utter lack of concern by those entrusted to look after the welfare of residents is dumbfounding. Taxpayers' money would be well spent if regulatory authorities actually did something to improve amenities, and what could best be described as the appalling state of city buses.