Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed, Former Deputy General and Commandant, Ansar VDP Academy:
The part of a person’s life which is spent in an educational institution as a student is called student life. It is the sowing season of life. During this time, every student creates the foundation of his future life. In Bangladesh, accidents occur very frequently and many valuable lives are lost. Recently, two young students became a victim of road accidents. Immediately after this unfortunate occurrence, students started a movement. They marched to the streets, calling for improvement in discipline and road safety.
This student movement was interpreted by many people in many ways. Many tried to make it controversial: Some called it a step to topple down the government, some tried to term it as a matter of dissatisfaction against road trafficking mismanagement, some tried to involve it with politics. But as a matter of fact, this movement spoke for the comfort of general people. This movement should in no way be undermined or under-estimated. Rather where the nation was imprudently sinking towards darkness, the student community played a vital role for its safety from disasters. It is undoubtedly a historic event. Actually this movement was never advocated by the government or the opponents. This is a demand from common people, so it is assumed that this movement is very much with the interest of the people’s sentiment. It is needless to say that the teenage students, with their fair movement, created an example before state.
During the time of movement, the students played the role of traffic police. The way they served ruined the glory of services of different departments. In this regard, the BRTC authority has become serious for renewal of license and fitness. Now people are consciously driving and even the pedestrians are also carefully crossing roads – something which has been a matter of failure by many agencies. With this end in view, the proposed road safety act has been approved by the cabinet. An exemplary movement has added with the movements like language and independence to maintain discipline and prevent unwanted road accident, No democratic movement, cruelty or torture by fascists can be accepted. But this movement should be conducted in the correct manner
But with the issues by the recent movement, students have restored their lost reputation. It is assumed that the lost image has been regained. They have pointed out that law enforcing agencies and other people in authority are violating the norms. They were on road without licence. Our students took a challenge against it and put them to trap of shyness and insult. With this, the general people are happy; they welcome the students drive. Being inspired by the guardians, the young students walked to the streets in groups and took the responsibility of traffic duties and checking licences and fitness of transport. In the midst of these good activities, a group of people tried to instigate, oppose and harass them. These dirty and nasty mentalities should not be favoured. Our honorable prime minister has agreed with the demand. So we must be careful that our future students should not collapse. All things should be run with honesty, sincerity, dedication and all the bad elements must be combated with tolerance. Students should go back to their class; they are to be attentive to their studies. If they are not properly educated, how can the dream of our digital Bangladesh be fulfilled?
In the future, the country’s leadership will be in crisis. From this movement we must realize that we shall have to go forward with correct leadership. We must pay attention to build a prosperous Bangladesh through discipline and awareness. Time has come to monitor all things very strictly. The road safety act must be consistent, accomodative and duly implemented immediately after its house of parliament order. Only then the country people will be benefited. Otherwise the students will go for movement once again.