BD pledges to halve road deaths by 2030

Bangladesh has renewed its commitment to reducing road crash deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2030, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said.

The minister made the commitment at a United Nations high-level meeting on improving global road safety at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday, July 20.

He said Bangladesh was implementing legal, policy-based and technology-driven measures aligned with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.

The initiatives include expanding artificial intelligence-based speed-control systems, improving emergency response following crashes and introducing targeted safety measures on highways, particularly to protect pedestrians.

Rabiul Alam said the government was committed to finalising, approving and enacting a comprehensive road safety law by December 2027, based on the Safe System Approach and international best practices.

Describing road safety as a national political priority, the minister said strong political commitment, effective partnerships and collective responsibility would be essential to achieve the 2030 target.

He also pledged to work closely with the international community to develop a safer, more sustainable and inclusive road transport system for all users.

Rabiul Alam is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the UN meeting. Other members include Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury and Bangladesh Road Safety Project Director Mohammad Shabbir Hasan Khan.

The minister is also scheduled to co-chair a side event on strengthening multisectoral coordination and sharing successful international experiences in reducing road crash deaths and injuries.