The fact that there are over 25,000 expired vehicles on our roads is truly alarming, and speaks to just how inattentive the administrations of past regimes have been with regard to this issue.
Dhaka regularly ranks as having the worst air quality in the world, especially during the winter season. The correlation between vehicle emissions and public health is well-documented and removing these outdated vehicles from our roads could lead to a marked improvement in air quality, benefiting the health of millions.
Furthermore, our battles with accidents on our roads have been all too common. Every day, there are numerous deaths and oftentimes, these deaths can be attributed to unfit vehicles.
To that end, we are hopeful that this time around, the interim government is finally successful in doing something previous administrations have woefully failed at -- getting unfit vehicles off our roads for good. Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has already given the ultimatum of six months, and we hope that this is not forgotten over the months that follow.
Discussions about cleaning up our roads are not new but it is the implementation of such measures that has often fallen short. We expect this government, however, to move beyond mere rhetoric and successfully enforce regulations that mandate the removal of expired vehicles.
Follow-up measures are equally critical, including regular inspections and penalties for non-compliance. A pro-active approach will be essential as without strict enforcement and implementation, any such policy will remain ineffective.
For too long have citizens been relegated to a lower quality of life with the dual threat of air pollution and unsafe roads. It is time to do something about it.