The only possible silver lining that could come of this regrettable incident is that the scale of the fiasco might finally shame the authorities into focusing on the dismal standards of the nation's highways and byways.

The immediate need is for some kind of highway patrol mechanism. The highways need a concerted police presence so that disturbances similar to Friday's can be swiftly dealt with. It seems inconceivable in this age of mobile phones that there is no system in place for relaying information to a central control unit and, indeed, no functional central control unit that is capable of maintaining peace and harmony on the highways.

In a country which is so small in area, one would have thought that this was a simple enough proposition. To have one of the country's main communications arteries put out of action for five hours is unacceptable. It is similarly unacceptable for thousands of citizens to engage in pitched combat with no regard for law and order.

The incident was triggered by a garment worker being struck and killed by an unidentified motorist early Friday morning. In retaliation, thousand of garments workers stormed the highway, stoning vehicles and causing mayhem, leading to further retaliation by transport workers and stranded motorists.

A functional highway patrol could also work to halt the root of most of the trouble on the roads -- trucks and buses which run at dangerous speed and with zero regard either for the laws of traffic safety, the rules of the road, or the well-being of their fellow commuters. In addition to ensuring that there are fewer accidents, the highway patrol could help ensure timely medical attention for accident victims, and ensure that Friday's disgraceful episode is not repeated.

The dangers of the highways work as a serous disincentive to spreading industries and investment outside Dhaka , and are one reason that we have been so unsuccessful in decentralizing offices and industries, and developing the country as a whole.