That authorities are now saying unfit, or “rickety,” buses will not be allowed to operate, even when they possess fitness certificates, is certainly a welcome development, on paper.
For years, Dhaka’s commuters have been forced to share the roads with buses that are simply not fit to be called roadworthy -- with common defects like rusting bodies, broken windows, worn-out tires, faulty doors, and poorly maintained engines.
But while the acknowledgement of the problem is encouraging, this is a promise we have heard before.
The real problem is not a lack of rules: Bangladesh already has laws and regulatory mechanisms requiring vehicles to meet minimum safety standards; the glaring failure has always been enforcement.
A bus that is visibly unsafe should never have been on the roads in the first place. Additionally, if a vehicle deteriorates after receiving certification, there must be mechanisms to identify it and take it off the road.
This is why the latest initiative must go beyond occasional drives and headline-making announcements.
Fitness certificates must reflect the actual condition of vehicles rather than becoming a formality. Officials responsible for approving unsafe buses must also face accountability.
At the same time, bus owners need practical facilities and sufficient time to carry out repairs -- particularly as authorities move maintenance activities towards the planned Purbachal depot.
The reported plan to develop the facility is encouraging, but infrastructure must translate into better maintenance standards, not merely relocation.
Most importantly, enforcement cannot stop after the initial crackdown. Owners must know that an unsafe bus will be taken off the road -- regardless of its paperwork, influence, or age.
Dhaka’s commuters have waited long enough. We have heard these promises before. Now it is time to get it done and, more importantly, to ensure that the rules are strictly and consistently followed.
