Public Health
About Travel Safety
We believe that citizens have the right to travel safely. However, as in other countries, traffic accidents are one of the most concerning issues in Bangladesh. Goal 3.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals is to cut the number of worldwide deaths and injuries from traffic accidents in half by 2023. Road accidents in Bangladesh are linked to a variety of concerns, including law enforcement, infrastructure issues, skilled drivers and assistants, noncompliance with the law, and so on. Aside from Bangladesh’s positives, we have a larger water and rail network. However, this network is not interconnected, and we rely heavily on road transportation. We believe that a multimodel transportation system will continue to contribute to a significant reduction in the number of road accidents. We also believe that walking and cycling are two of the most energy-efficient modes of transportation. However, walking and cycling are not any safer in the city. CLPA is collaborating with the government, local governments, CSOs, the media, and transportation stakeholders to ensure citizens’ travel safety.
Walking to school in the city of Dhaka should be made safe
In the Dhaka city, the lack of adequate facilities in the area creates a safety hazard for pedestrians. In recent times, a large proportion of those killed in road accidents are students. According to the 2021 data of Road Safety Foundation, 13 percent of those killed in road accidents are school-college students, 6,284 people have been killed in road accidents in the country, 803 of them are students. Most of the students commute on foot. The main reasons for these accidents are the lack of fixed speed limit of vehicles, insufficient speed limiters, zebra crossings and footpaths suitable for walking in the educational institution area.
The Center for Law and Policy Affairs-CLPA, in partnership with the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, held a pedestrian safety awareness workshop at Bengal Medium High School in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur district and Dhaka Ideal Cadet School on Aziz Khan Road. The awareness program drew approximately 100 kids and staff from both schools.
Speakers of the awareness program recommended keeping sidewalks free of car parking, garbage and encroachment by shops, not raising sidewalks, adequate zebra crossings and speed breakers on the streets near the procession. He also urged everyone to obey the rules on the road.
CLPA Delegation meet with BRTA Road Safety Director
On April 5, 2023, a delegation from the Center for Law and Policy Affairs-CLPA met with Sk. Md. Mahbub-E-Rabbani, Director (Road Safety),Road Safety Wing Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), to discuss the issue of ensuring pedestrian safety. CLPA Policy Analyst Kamrunnisha Munna, Policy Analyst Asrar Habib Nipu were members of the aforementioned delegation. To ensure road safety, the Center for Law and Policy Affairs collaborates with the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety working to promote pedestrian safety issue in the Dhaka City.
Urge for pass the draft pedestrian safety regulation
On March 29, 2023, CLPA team met with Mr. Mohammad Haider Kamruzzaman, Transport Engineer of Dhaka Transport Coordinating Authority, to discuss pedestrian safety on the road. To ensure pedestrian safety, the CLPA delegation urges the DTCA to pass the proposed pedestrian safety regulation. In Dhaka, road accidents kill the majority of pedestrians. It is critical that proper pedestrian safety measures be implemented in Dhaka. To ensure road safety, the Center for Law and Policy Affairs collaborates with the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety working in Bangladesh.
Meeting with Dhaka North and South City Corporation on Road Safety issue
Center for Law and Policy Affairs-CLPA in collaboration with Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety is working towards making Dhaka’s pedestrians safer. A delegation of CLPA, Mr. Maksud Hashem, Chief Urban Planner of Dhaka North City Corporation, and Chief Engineer of Dhaka South City Corporation, to discuss the issue of creating a safe environment for pedestrians on 21 March 2023 and 9 April 2023 Met Mr. Saleh Ahmed. Adviser Mr. Aminul Islam Bakul, Policy Analyst Asrar Habib Nipu and Policy Analyst Kamrunnisha Munna were present on behalf of CLPA. . In recent times, a large proportion of those killed in road accidents are students. Most of the students commute on foot. They informed that the main reasons for these accidents are that the speed limit of the vehicles in the educational institution area is not fixed, there are not enough speed breakers, zebra crossings and sidewalks suitable for walking.