Rights activists have said that walking to school is not safe in Dhaka city ldue to lack of proper walking environment, safe road for students and pedestrians and many other problems.
To promote road safety education among the students and safe walking environment for pedestirans, the Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA) Trust, a rights body, organised a campaign on Aziz Khan Road in the capital on Wednesday (May 24).
The campaign was carried out to create awareness among pedestrians with the help of Global Alliance of NGO’s for Road Safety.
Students and teachers from Bengal Medium High School and Dhaka Ideal Cadet School participated in the road safety awareness campaign.
Bengal Medium High School headmaster Narayan Chandra Das, Dhaka Ideal Cadet School headmaster MA Mannan Monir, CLPA’s programme adviser Aminul Islam Bokul, policy analyst of CLPA Asrar Habib Nipu, another policy analyst Kamrunnisa Munna, Finance and Admin officer Atiqur Rahman were present during the campaign.
Speakers of the event said that pedestrians including school going students in the capital remain exposed to the constant danger of losing life or limbs as reckless driving continues with impunity.
In a survey conducted by Road Safety Foundation in 2021, shows that there were 5,371 road accidents in the country in 2021. At least 6,284 people were killed and 7,468 were injured in those accidents. Among the deceased were 803 students from educational institutions.
Though too many lives are cut short in accidents resulting from rash driving every year and lack of walk way and spreed breaker near schools, speakers in a camphaign urged the responsible authorities to take necessary actions to check the menace.
CLPA’s programme adviser Aminul Islam Bokul stressed the need to implement the ‘Pedestrians' Safety Regulations, 2021’.
Bengal Medium High School head master Narayan Chandra Das said, “School going children are crossing roads risking their own lives for lack of adequate zebra crossing, spreed breaker near schools.”
Dhaka Ideal Cadet School head master MA Mannan Monir said that most of roadside footpath are occupied by makeshift shops, car parking, and lack of space.
He also urged the local influencial people to come up with actions to solve the pressing problems. CLPA policy analyst Asrar Habib Nipu urged everyone to abide by the existing road laws to reduce road accidents.
