In Naogaon's Nawabganj, a young voice took to the city streets with a powerful message this morning to noon (April 21).
A fifth-grader, Fatema Afrin Chhoya, staged a unique protest demanding safe roads. Although her age couldn't be confirmed, most 5th-graders in Bangladesh's public education system are 11-12 years old.
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Blindfolded, Chhoya stood for hours starting from 10:30 am in this sweltering weather at two busy intersections of the city - Tajer Mor and Bridge Mor - holding her placard.
Her poster read: "We want safety on the roads, we want to live like we're really living, we want the implementation of traffic laws to prevent accidents."
Talking to UNB, Chhoya shared her motivation: "I see death news every day on TV-newspapers. Most of it is due to road accidents. When I leave home or go to school, there's no certainty whether I'll return to my parents safely. Seeing so many death news every day is very painful, it makes me afraid."
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She further stated, "Just a few days ago, a father and mother were killed in a road accident at Sahapur in Nawabganj. Their 5-year-old child survived. Now think about what will happen to that child. The child has been deprived of parental love and care for the rest of his life due to the tragedy. I want safe roads. I want to be able to walk safely on the roads. I urge the government to take appropriate measures to ensure safe roads."
Chhoya's father, music artist Khademul Islam Captain, said, "On April 18, Matiur Rahman Hasan, known as Pagol Hasan, a popular lyricist and composer in Sunamganj, died in a road accident in the Surma Bridge area. Pagol Hasan was my colleague and friend."
He continued, "Before that, on April 17, Enamul Haque and his wife Brishti Akhter, were killed in a road accident in Sahapur, Nawabganj. Their 5-year-old child, Junaid Islam, survived."
"These incidents have deeply affected my daughter. She can't keep herself stable after hearing so much news of death every day. That's why she says, 'Dad, I want to stand up for safe roads.' I couldn't ignore my daughter's noble and logical demand, so I fully support her," he said.
"Today, my little daughter is demanding safe roads alone, just as everyone in the country should become aware and raise such demands. If everyone became conscious and raised such demands, then incidents like these, akin to daily bloodshed, would greatly decrease. We want safe roads, and we want everyone to abide by traffic laws. We urge the government, along with the general public, drivers, and vehicle owners, to work together," he added.
A pedestrian named Zulfikar Rahman said, "Actually, none of us are safe on the roads. When we leave home, there's no certainty that we'll return safely. Such an initiative by a school student has truly amazed us."
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Echoing Rahman's sentiment, Nilofer Yasmin and Tanha Khatun, two other pedestrians, said, "The child's protest and demand amidst intense heat and humidity are very rational and commendable. We have a lot to learn from her. Fresh lives are lost on the roads every day. Everyone must come together to demand safe roads."
President of the Nawabganj District Branch of NIRAPAD SARAK CHAI (NISCHA), A.S.M. Raihan Alom, said, "We have been campaigning for safe roads for a long time. We are also raising awareness among drivers and vehicle owners. The initiative taken by this student has greatly impressed us. If such demands and awareness spread among everyone, then I believe incidents of road accidents will decrease significantly."