Minister calls for coordinated road safety action

Bangladesh has called for stronger institutions, coordinated implementation and greater accountability to accelerate global efforts to reduce road traffic deaths and serious injuries.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam made the call while co-chairing a multi-stakeholder panel session at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Addressing the session, the minister said effective institutions must be supported by coordinated action across the entire road transport system to achieve meaningful improvements in road safety.

Referring to the Progress Declaration, he stressed the need for close cooperation among transport, health, police, finance, education, environment and local government authorities, backed by clearly defined institutional responsibilities and coherent public policies.

Shaikh Rabiul Alam also highlighted the important role of local governments, the private sector, civil society, academia and young people in promoting road safety, saying their contributions should be guided by strong government leadership and accountability.

He urged participants to translate political commitments into effective institutions, coordinated implementation and measurable reductions in road traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

The minister is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety at the UN Headquarters.

The delegation also includes Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammed Ziaul Haque and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, according to a PID handout.