Ensure fair compensation for road traffic victims

In a country where so many people die or are injured in road accidents – according to the Bangladesh Passengers’ Welfare Association 105,338 deaths and 149,847 injuries between 2014 and September 2024 – the importance of compensation for victims cannot be overstated. Yet it is disheartening to see this basic measure of justice denied to most victims or their families. For those families who lose their primary breadwinners, the effect is particularly devastating as they simultaneously deal with the financial and emotional toll of tragedy.

Why then is the BRTA failing to provide swift compensation, even after the ouster of a regime that prioritized the interests of transport bosses over those of ordinary passengers? According to a report of this dailyDespite the creation of a fund under the Road Transport Act in January last year – largely with contributions from vehicle owners – bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies have brought the process to a standstill, with only 592 of the 1,940 victims or their families applying to receive compensation . During this period, at least 22,855 people were killed or injured in road accidents, all of whom are eligible for compensation.

It goes without saying that denied or delayed compensation effectively doubles the suffering for the affected families. Our report cites the case of Mohiuddin Mal, a driver who died in an accident last year. As the sole earner, he took care of his household of four, including two school-age children. Now his family is in big trouble. Despite filing an application for compensation and a case with the local police station about a year ago, the family is still waiting, with no financial help or justice in sight. This is also the story of thousands of families devastated by traffic accidents.

What this shows is how complex and exclusive the compensation process has been:something we had warned about when the rules were first formulated. This is further exacerbated by delays in the application, examination and disbursement processes. For example, the BRTA’s investigative committee, which is charged with verifying compensation claims, often takes much longer than necessary. All this also discourages victims from even applying, which undermines the purpose of the fund, while many are not even aware of it.

We have recently called up the establishment of a committee to tackle our road safety problems holistically. Such a commission could not only implement the necessary reforms to improve road safety, but also ensure that accident victims receive justice and fair compensation. This is an issue that deserves the highest priority. Moreover, since the BRTA itself is at the heart of most of the problems in the transportation sector, it needs to be overhauled so that it can perform better. The government must take these issues with the seriousness they deserve.