Students and their parents face various inconveniences on their way to school in Dhaka city due to the lack of a safe environment, proper infrastructure and public transport.
However, the overabundance of private cars for students to school is the one of the main reasons for the traffic congestion and pollution in the city.
Rights activists, environmentalists, experts on urban planning and officials of the government bodies concerned at a discussion on Tuesday (October 31, 2023) opined that Dhaka city needs proper infrastructure, availability of public transport and adequate security to walk to school.
“Pedestrians are the worst victims of road crashes in Dhaka city. About 60 per cent of road crash victims are pedestrians. The infrastructure in Dhaka city must be made pedestrian friendly. However, Walking to school environment, infrastructure and safety must be ensured in the city,” Dr. Akter Mahmud, a professor of Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Jahangirnagar University; said at the discussion.
Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) and Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA) jointly arranged the discussion on ‘Transport Mode Choice Behaviour of School-going Students in Dhaka City’ at the auditorium of DTCA at Tejgaon in the capital.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony for research work in this regard also took place following the discussion. The MoU was signed between the DTCA and the CLPA.
Mohammad Haider Kamruzzaman, transport engineer of DTCA; and Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam, secretary of CLPA; signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations in presence of Sabiha Parveen, executive director of DTCA. Mohammad Rabiul Alam, additional executive director (TMPTI) of DTCA; Aminul Islam Bakul, head of programme at CLPA; and Kamrunnisa Munna of CLPA were also present at the time, among others.
Meanwhile, Sabiha Parveen of the DTCA; presided over the discussion where Abu Naser Khan, chairman of Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba- Save the Environment Movement); Professor Dr. Akter Mahmud; and Bazlur Rahman Tarafder, an associate professor at Dhaka International University (DIU); took part in the discussion as panelists. Mohammad Rabiul Alam of DTCA; and Mahbub E Rabbani, director (road safety), at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA); Maqsud Hashem of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC); Aminul Islam Bakul of CLPA; Hamidul Islam Hillol, project manager at Bureau of Economic Research at Dhaka University; and Ziaur Rahman of WBB Trust also spoke on the occasion, among others.
Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam delivered the welcome speech, while Asrar Habib Nipu, policy analyst at CLPA; presented the keynote paper at the discussion. The meeting was attended by representatives from various non-government organisations, development workers and media representatives.
In her presidential speech at the discussion, Sabiha Parveen said that the research with CLPA will play a vital role in creating a safe and people and environment friendly transportation system in Dhaka city. The service should be introduced through volunteering in different communities with the help of people from all classes and professions of the society and they should all work together through coordination between different organisations of the government, she said.
Professor Dr. Akter Mahmud said, “If we consider the health and livable environment of our students, we must ensure proper footpath and quality public transport in Dhaka city. Besides, the city corporation’s initiative regarding school bus must be implemented.”
Mahbub E Rabbani said that research is must for ensuring safe walking of students. He suggested bringing up the issue of which means students want to travel in the research.
Maqsud Hashem said, “We are making wide footpath but there are many problems. Parking on footpaths has become a major problem. Community based housing to school walking network must be created.”
Mohammad Rabiul Alam of DTCA said that 65 per cent people of Dhaka city commute on foot. “We want to highlight the issues of creating a safer environment for those who travel on foot and bringing together those who use cars through research,” he added.