A total of Tk 1.01 crore in financial assistance was distributed among 35 families of people killed or injured in road accidents in Gazipur on Monday (June 22).
The assistance was provided from the BRTA Trustee Board Fund during a ceremony held at the Bhawal Conference Room of the Gazipur Deputy Commissioner's Office. Gazipur Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Nurul Karim Bhuiyan handed over the cheques to the beneficiaries.
Among the recipients was 30-year-old Runa Khatun, who received a cheque worth Tk 5 lakh while holding her two-year-old child. Her husband, a professional driver, died in a road accident a year ago.
Speaking emotionally after receiving the assistance, Runa said her husband’s 15 years of driving experience could not save his life. She added that while the financial support would help her raise their child, it could never replace the loss of her husband.
Expressing sympathy for the affected families, Deputy Commissioner Md. Nurul Karim Bhuiyan outlined several measures aimed at improving road safety in Gazipur. He said roadside hawkers along major highways would be rehabilitated in designated locations, bypass roads would be opened at several high-risk points, and initiatives had been taken to discourage unsafe labour gatherings on highways and promote safer travel practices.
Gazipur Superintendent of Police Md. Sharif Uddin, Deputy Police Commissioner (Traffic) SM Ashraful Alam, Additional District Magistrate Salma Khatun, and representatives from the district administration, city corporation, educational institutions, NGOs and other stakeholder groups also attended the event.
Participants pledged to work together to improve road safety and strengthen the transportation system.
While beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the financial assistance, many said the support could not erase the pain of losing loved ones. Their message was clear: stronger road safety measures are needed so that no more families suffer similar tragedies.
