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

Why, then, has the BRTA failed to quickly pay compensation, even after the ouster of a regime that prioritized the interests of transport bosses over those of ordinary passengers? According to a report from this dailyDespite the creation of a fund under the Road Transport Act in January last year – mainly through contributions from vehicle owners – bureaucratic delays and inefficiency have slowed the process, with only 592 of the 1,940 victims or their families who requested compensation who receive it. During this period, at least 22,855 people were killed or injured in road accidents, all eligible for compensation.

It goes without saying that denied or delayed compensation effectively doubles the suffering of the families concerned. Our report cites the case of Mohiuddin Mal, a rideshare driver killed in an accident last year. As the sole breadwinner, he supported his household of four, including two school-going children. Today, his family is in desperate situation. Despite filing a compensation claim and a complaint with the local police station about a year ago, the family is still waiting, with no financial help or justice in sight. It is also the story of thousands of families ruined by road accidents.

This shows how complex and exclusive the compensation process is…something we warned against when the rules were first formulated. This situation is further exacerbated by delays in the application, investigation and disbursement processes. For example, the BRTA Commission of Inquiry, responsible for verifying compensation claims, often takes much longer than it should. All of this also discourages victims from applying, which defeats the very purpose of the fund, when many don’t even know it.

We have recently asked the creation of a commission to address our road safety issues comprehensively. Such a commission, apart from bringing necessary reforms to improve road safety, could also ensure that accident victims get justice as well as fair compensation. This is an issue that deserves the highest priority. Additionally, since the BRTA itself is at the center of most of the transportation sector’s problems, it needs to be overhauled so that it can perform better. The government must take these issues with the seriousness they deserve.