Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

The number of driving licence-seekers has seen a sharp rise following the unprecedented student protest for road safety in July-August, and the authorities are struggling to cope with the pressure due to inadequate training facilities and manpower.

At least 24,954 people were killed in road crashes in the country in 2016, according to a World Health Organisation report.

The number of children dying by suicide has increased in recent years largely due to what experts believe a lack of awareness among family members and teachers about the stress in adolescence.

Sixty-four percent of the polling centres across the country are vulnerable to violence, with the highest number of such centres in Dhaka division, and police have finalised an elaborate security plan giving importance to those.

With the number of electricity-run vehicles like easy-bikes and electric cars increasing gradually in the country, the government has decided to bring those under regulation.

It was a busy day at the office of the returning officer in the capital's Segunbagicha yesterday.

When it comes to unnatural deaths of children, road accident is the second biggest killer, right after drowning, but there is no specific government policy or action for preventing this or educating children about traffic rules.

Some controversial Awami League lawmakers got party tickets for the upcoming election.

While declaring the schedule for the upcoming general election, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in his speech on November 8, commented that people “irrespective of their caste, creed, and religion get into a festive mood on Election Day”.

The Road Transport Act-2018 is yet to be brought into effect a month after the president's approval, allegedly due to a movement against the law by transport workers.

With ride-hailing services growing rapidly in Dhaka, user complaints are also on the rise. But errant operators, drivers, and riders cannot be held accountable because the companies are yet to be registered with the BRTA.

Amidst strong criticism over their recent strike, road transport workers have backtracked from tougher movement before the general election expected to be held next month.

The government yesterday approved 39 development projects worth Tk 86,687 crore in an apparent move to woo voters ahead of the general election.

Bangladesh is going to observe the National Road Safety Day today with the slogan “Will obey law; will make roads safe” against the backdrop of an unprecedented student agitation for safe roads.

The morning rush hour traffic, which generally seems to stretch endlessly, suddenly disappeared at Chankharpul intersection yesterday.

Rivalry between the ruling and the opposition parties is inevitable in politics, but it is utterly unacceptable that attempts will be made to make the opposition leaderless, a special court observed in its verdict in the August 21 grenade attack cases yesterday.

It was a well-orchestrated plan, executed through abuse of state power, a special court has ruled, delivering verdicts in the two cases filed over the grenade attack on an Awami League rally 14 years ago.

Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad holds its grand rally today at the capital's Suhrawardy Udyan to press home its five-point demand ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Trial of the August 21 grenade attack cases have been completed and its verdicts are set to be delivered on October 10.

A parliamentary committee yesterday finalised its report on the much-talked about proposed Road Transport Act, 2018, recommending some changes in the proposed law.