Staff Correspondent

In collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Vital Strategies, organized the 2nd road safety journalism workshop at the Conference Room, DNCC building, Nagar Bhavan in the city on Sunday.

A total of 25 journalists from various national media outlets participated in this workshop. The Honorable Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam spoke at the closing session as the chief guest.

In his speech, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam highlighted the urgent need for action to reduce and prevent road crashes to ensure road safety in Dhaka city, as well as in Bangladesh.

He stressed the importance of public awareness campaigns and enforcement of traffic laws to address the growing challenges posed by road safety. To create sustainable and safe roads for everyone, it requires a holistic approach. All concerned stakeholders must work together to promote road safety in Dhaka and Bangladesh. Every road user should obey traffic rules; drivers should limit speed and use seat belts; bikers should wear helmets, so that we can reduce road fatalities.

Mayor Atiq emphasized technology and artificial intelligence( AI)-based solutions for road safety. DNCC is ready to utilize AI-based technology in our area. Therefore, we need support and enforcement by the other stakeholders of this area. We are working for smart Bangladesh. Why not smart technology for road safety and road traffic management, he questioned.

The honorable mayor also handed over the certificates to the journalists and responded to various questions by the journalists on road safety issues.

Among others, Mr. Abdul Wadud, Initiative Coordinator of BIGRS, Legendary actor and artist Afzal Hossain, Aminul Islam Sujon, Technical Adviser of Vital Strategies also spoke at the closing session that was facilitated by Ms. Khaleda Jasmin Mithela, communication officer of BIGRS.

The workshop inaugurated by Mr. Masud Alam Siddique, Secretary of the DNCC (joint secretary of the government) and welcome speech given by Mr. Abdul Wadud, Initiative Coordinator of BIGRS and inauguration facilitated by Ms. Khaleda Jasmin Mithela. Mr. Masud Alam Siddique, Secretary of DNCC stated that the DNCC is taking various initiatives to promote road safety. DNCC will continue its work to build a safer road in Dhaka. Mr. Abdul Wadud, Initiative Coordinator at BIGRS thanked the mayor of DNCC for the leadership towards making the roads safer for the citizens of Dhaka North. He urged DNCC to allocate resources for road safety work in the future and arrange awareness programs on various road safety issues.

This workshop focuses on “Speeding as a Risk Factor, Data and Solutions Journalism". Dr. Syed Mahfuzul Huq (National Professional Officer – NCD, WHO Bangladesh), Eng. SM Sohel Mahmud, PhD, and Eng. Asif Raihan, PhD (Associate Professors, Accident Research Institute, BUET), Ms. Shirin Wadhaniya (Research Associate, John Hopkins International Injury Research Unit-JHUIIR), Ms. Farzana Islam Toma (Consultant of World Resources Institute-WRI), Senior journalist Johirul Alam (NTV), Aminul Islam Sujon (Technical Adviser, Vital Strategies), Khaleda Jasmin (Communication Officer-BIGRS –Dhaka North) facilitated various sessions.

It is noted that Road Traffic Injury (RTI) remains a significant cause of death and disability in world, with approximately 1.19 million lives lost each year due to road traffic crashes, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 'Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023’. Road crashes also cause 20 to 50 million serious and lifelong injuries.

In Bangladesh also, everyday people are dying on roads. Every road user should be more careful, including drivers, passengers, traffic police, BRTA and vehicle owners.