Local authorities are planning to launch awareness campaigns and mobile courts to check accidents on the Baghaichari-Sajek road in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
They blame unfit vehicles, mainly Chander Gari, and reckless driving for recurring fatal road crashes that left several people -- both tourists and locals -- dead and many others injured.
Most of the roads connecting Sajek are in hilly areas with deep ditches.
On Thursday, at least 12 passengers were seriously injured when a Chander Gari loaded with passengers lost control in Sajek House Para area of Baghaichari Upazila of Rangamati. Local UP Chairman Atulal Chakma said that the condition of five of the injured was critical.
The vehicle (Dhaka-Gh 5761) lost control and fell into a 100-foot deep hilly ditch in the House Para area while going down Ruilui Hill with passengers from Kanglak Para in Sajek to Machalong Bazar.
Everyone in the car was injured. On receiving the information of the accident, a team of army and police with the help of locals rescued the injured and quickly sent them to Dighinala Health Complex. All the injured are local residents of Sajek. Their identities could not be immediately confirmed.
Officer-in-Charge of Sajek police station Md Nurul Haque confirmed the accident. “Road crashes have risen recently due to increased traffic on the Baghaihat-Sajek road. The police will soon talk to the drivers and owners’ associations to take steps and come up with rules.
Sajek Union Parishad Member and Headman Juppui Thang Tripura said that most of the Chander Gari drivers did not have licences.
Baghaichari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Akhter said that the upazila administration would soon take action against unfit vehicles and unlicensed drivers by conducting mobile courts.
