In the recently issued Road Transport Regulations- 2022, the issue of road safety recognized by the World Health Organization has not been given importance. Because out of 167 rules, only five rules mention the issue of road safety. In the rest, importance has been given to issues related to the road transport system.

As a result, the speakers feel that the provision of road safety is not possible under these rules. These remarks were made by senior journalists working in various media in the dialogue titled ‘High-Level Dialogue on Road Transport Act-2018 and Road Transport Rules-2022: Role of Media’ organized at Daily Star’s Shaheed Azimur Rahman Conference Hall on Wednesday (February 15). The keynote speaker, Dr. Mahfuzur Rahman Bhunya of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute’s Road Safety and Injury Prevention Program, highlighted that 23,166 people die in road accidents annually in Bangladesh according to CIPRB and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare statistics. He suggested implementing the five pillars outlined in the United Nations Second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 to prevent premature deaths, which include safe road management, safe roads, safe motor vehicles, safe road users, and post-accident management. These pillars have been successfully used in other countries to reduce the number of road crashes and save people from injury.

In addition, Dr. Rahman emphasized the importance of addressing the 5 behavioral risks identified by the World Health Organization, which include reducing speed, using seat belts, using proper helmets, not driving under the influence of alcohol, and providing special seats for children. During the event, National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh Secretary General Professor Dr. Khandkar Abdul Awal Rizvi and other speakers also expressed concerns about the neglect of road safety in the new road transport rules. They suggested measures such as controlling speed limits, promoting the proper use of seat belts and quality helmets, and ensuring adequate treatment and rehabilitation for the injured after road crash.
Other attendees included President of Bangladesh Orthopedic Society Professor Dr. Monayem Hossain, Secretary General Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, and Dr. Md. Shariful Alam, Road Safety Program Country Coordinator, Global Health Advocacy incubator, as well as panelists Sohrab Hossain, joint news editor of Prothom Alo, Abu Rush Md. Ruhul Amin, senior news editor of Bangla vision, Chief Reporter Shahnaz Sharmin of Nagrik TV, and Mainul Hossain of Daily Ittefaq.

Press Release, 15 February 2023