Govt not friendly to stop accidents: Ilias Kanchan

He can be defined as hero rather public hero. Since 90s and till now he was the popular film actor of Bangladesh film industry. The film actor has performed as heron in around 250 films. The Beder meye Josna, a popular most Bangla film is recognized as highest popular and commercially successful film in the Bangladeshi film industry .In that film he played role as actor.

 

Though he has almost sopped performing in the film industry, he is equally popular for his social movement to the countrymen. Under his close leadership he has formed a social awareness movement called ‘Nirapad Sarak Chai’(Want safe road) in 1993 aiming to end highway accident and build up public awareness. From the inception of the organization, it got much support from countrymen. The Nirapod Sarak Day is being observed in the country by the leadership of the organization on October 22. On observence of the day we have faced with the public hero. The interview has been published here for the readers of Risingbd. Ilias Kanchan was interviewed by Tapos Roy.

 

Risingbd:  You have been engaged in movement demanding safe road. How was its beginning?

 

Ilias Kanchan: My wife Jahanara Kanchan was killed by road accident in this day (October 22, 1993). After that I thought over leaving performing in the film arena while my popularity was in the first row. One of a journalist told me that as your wife loved you much, on the same tie uncountable people of this country also like you same. You could not save life of your wife, now you are thinking over leaving film industry. Rather you can take initiative to launch a movement for make awareness of your fans over road accident. The words of the journalist struck my mind. I thought it for seven days and finally decided it positively that I have to work on it. Social movement to be launched.

 

Risingbd:  So far we can remember, your popularity was in a pick at that time. On that period it was a courageous decision.

 

Ilias Kanchan: I had taken the courageous decision. When I had shared this with my close friends and family members, many of them did not inspired me and wanted me take it positively and told me not to take decision of joining in the social movement leaving film.  I had countered that if my popularity goes down, I don’t bother. I have no loss if I can make aware any people of the country and save any life from road accident. If I die today, nothing would be rest when all would be lost.

 

Risingbd:  What was its beginning?

 

Ilias Kanchan: My fans and supports wanted to form Fan Clubs and Jahanara Memorials. I did not want that. The road accident is not for a person rather anyone may fall in road accident anytime. So I advised them to think for universal.  And for this reason I named the organization ‘Nirapod Sarak Chai.

 

Risingbd: Which initiatives were taken to make motivate people for safe road?

 

Ilias Kanchan: We have been working for past 21 years ceaselessly. We have some motivational programs. We also work for school boys to make them aware over road accident. We have running driving training school. Walton is subsidizing in this filed. Since 2010, we are conferring driving training for educated unemployed youths from this training institute. Through this we have trained up 400 skilled drivers from the institute. They are expert in this profession. Not only this, those who are professional drivers, we offer them training for enhance proficiency.  Through this channel, we have trained up 5000 drivers and today we are observing the day. Actually, the day was initiated for her tragic death. So we are deeply remembering her in the day. Many people also become aware through different programs those were chalked out to observe the day. General people become aware and take part of the movement.

 

Risingbd: What are causes behind road accident in our country? What do you think?

 

Ilias Kanchan: In the developed countries, road accidents are caused for certain 5-6 reasons. But in Bangladesh the scenario is not same. We have marked at least 45 causes of road accident and informed it to the government. Apart from faulty road construction, no respectfulness on existing rules, lack of implement rules and lack of awareness are equally responsible for road accident.  

In our country, hat bazaars are being installed beside the highways across the country.  The unauthorized vehicles like Vat vati, Nasiman, Kariman are moving on the highway haphazardly.  Small roads are becoming busy roads day by day. In developed countries the small roads are made wide like big streets and later is connects with highway. Even the highway filling station and fuel stations were set up in distance area from highway.  It is unbelievable to build dwelling houses beside the highway. In our country, apart from pedestrians, the passengers are also unaware. The passengers inspires bus drivers to run bus speeding.  If they (drivers) runs slow, they roughs up and through abuses to the drivers.

 

What new over driving license? The system is not faulty free.  Many drivers drive with illegal driving license. Many have no license at all.  I do not know such anomaly takes place elsewhere of the world. The government does not try to address these problems at all.

 

Risingbd: Why the government is reluctant over the matter?

 

Ilias Kanchan: I don’t know but I can realize. No government gives emphasis over the road safety adequately. They are apprehended that their vote may be lost if the rules are implemented strictly. The unauthorized dangerous vehicles like Nosimon, Karimon and vatvati runs on the highway by political approval. They are (driver) involved with politics actively so they are also involved with politics of votes.

 

Risingbd: To observe the noble movement, what type of co-operations you are receiving from government part?

 

Ilias Kanchan: Sorry to say that we are receiving lack repose from government. From early years we have been demanding to the government to observe the day in state fashion, but no response at all. We also appealed it to the United Nations (UN) to observe the day internationally because the problem is universal. But government is not cordial in this issue. If the government would take me and patronize me, the road accident would be reduced a lot. Train up drivers, make them skilled and professional, enact law, implement the laws and address technical problems on the highway is not our job. We only can tell people and make them aware. In some extant we can arrange high volume training.  But government should have to do rest of works.

 

Risingbd: Your expertise is from film industry. Through the movies, the massages can be sent to people on awareness. Have you ever tried over it?

 

Ilias Kanchan: Yes, I have tried that. We have made 5-6 short films on these issues. Nakful is such an extraordinary job. We made this through getting patronization of Home Affairs ministry. The films were aired in different television channels. But the films were not seen by focus group. I had planned to visualize those films in the bus truck terminal premises. But due to various difficulties, it could not be implemented. But the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) authorities are displaying those in their training sessions.  They have praised a lot for the works. Not only this, I have made drama identifying nine issues specially how the road accidents are being taking places in the rural areas. But despite all efforts, nothing could be done.

 

Risingbd: Why not possible?

 

Ilias Kanchan: I have mentioned early that despite high determination, we could not do anything. Only governmental role can implement those. The most important matter is quality training; it could not be done well.  In developed countries people are literate. They drive their own vehicle. But here the situation is different. Drivers are available here. In many times we do not aware that if the driver is trained up enough or not.

 

Risingbd: Have you get cooperation from people of the field of film industry?

 

Ilias Kanchan: Once I was all in all in Dhaka film industry. On that period many were with me. They participated in the movement for their own interest. Now I am in far away from the field. As a result, they also left me. But professionals of different fields like drama, music, sports are however, like to keep relate with me. Many inspire me saying brother you are doing better. Please call me, if needed. I become surprised to hear this from them. I can call how many people from one voice. I have been discharging my duties from my part. They themselves do not feel such need to come forward from their own responsibility.

 

Risingbd: What you like to say for the countrymen on the eve of the day ‘ Nirapod Sarak Chai?

 

Ilias Kanchan: According to the BRTA sources, more than seven lakh motor bikes and 14 lakhs vehicles are plying on the street. Out of this 5-6 lakhs public carrier are also included. The public transports are facing accidents most. As a passenger we should follow some rules.  You can notice that the survived passengers who received injury in the accidents says in the hospitals that the ‘driver was driving recklessly before accident’. In such a position my question is why you (passenger) did not stop the driver from reckless driving?

 

Actually our passengers think that those drivers are skilled who can run fast and reach early. In this position, many passengers instigate drivers to drive fast. I have only an appeal that please never ask the driver ‘Go fast’ rather you tell them from today that ‘run carefully’. If the driver doesn’t want to pay attention on you, try to resist him during reckless driving WITH united effort. And tell them ‘drive carefully’.

 

Risingbd/ Dhaka/ October 22, 2014/ Tapos Roy/ AA/ Humayun Kabir