Road safety Act must to curb crashes
Staff Reporter :
Experts and youth leaders have stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive Road Safety Act to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, particularly in urban areas like Dhaka, where road fatalities and traffic congestion are alarmingly high.
Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), speakers at a youth campaign on Sunday noted that over 50% of road crash fatalities globally involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
In a city like Dhaka—among the most densely populated in the world—traffic congestion leads to daily productivity losses and poses serious safety risks for non-motorized road users.
The event, held at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission’s head office in Dhanmondi, was organized to mark the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week. The campaign’s theme this year is “Streets for Life: Making Walking and Cycling Safe.”
Delivering the keynote speech, Sharmeen Rahman, Road Safety Project Coordinator of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said, “Walking and cycling can be viable solutions to Dhaka’s traffic crisis, but for that, we need a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly road infrastructure supported by a robust Road Safety Act.”
Neelima Akhter, Executive Director of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), attended the event as the Chief Guest.
Emphasizing the health and environmental benefits of walking and cycling, she stated, “Promoting these habits not only reduces medical costs and road accidents but also fosters a cleaner, healthier environment.
This requires coordinated efforts from government bodies, NGOs, and especially the youth.”
Professor Dr. Golam Rahman, President of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, presided over the event and called for government strategic plans to prioritize walkable and bicycle-friendly urban infrastructure.
The event was also attended by several notable guests, including Professor Md. Iqbal Hossain Razu, Aminul Islam Sujon, Abu Rushd Md. Ruhul Amin, and youth representatives like Abdullah Mehedi Dipto, President of Road Safety Movement, and Iftekhar Ahmed Sakib, President of the Bangladesh Medical Students’ Society.
Marjana Muntaha, Coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing, delivered the welcome address.
At the end of the session, youth participants handed over a memorandum to the Chief Guest, demanding the formulation and immediate implementation of a Road Safety Act to protect vulnerable road users and ensure safer streets for all.