Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Shafiqul Islam Khan on Tuesday said a drive has been launched to free footpaths from illegal occupation to ensure pedestrian safety, noting that more than half of road crash victims in the capital are pedestrians.
The DNCC Administrator made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a report releasing programme titled “Road Safety Situation in Dhaka,” held at the DNCC conference room in the city’s Gulshan on Tuesday.
The report, jointly prepared by DNCC and Dhaka Metropolitan Police, analysed general diaries and cases recorded at different police stations under DMP related to road crash fatalities in 2022 and 2023. The initiative was conducted under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) with technical support from Vital Strategies.
Presenting the findings, BIGRS Dhaka Surveillance Coordinator Dr Tanvir Ibne Ali said a total of 540 people were killed in road crashes in Dhaka during the two years in 2022-2023. Among them, 56 percent (303) were pedestrians, 24 percent (128) motorcyclists and 8 percent (41) were rickshaw users।
Among the death victims, highest 80 percent are male and the ages of deaths’ victims between 20-49 years, which indicated the
Dr Tanvir said 80 percent of the victims were men and the mortality rate was highest among those aged 20 to 49, indicating the major impact of road accidents on the working population.
The report also found that fatalities were higher at night than during the day, with reckless buses and trucks identified as major contributors to crashes.
Several high-risk intersections were identified, including Jatrabari and Airport intersections, each recording 12 deaths, and Abdullahpur intersection with 10 fatalities. A particularly dangerous stretch was noted on the Dhaka-Mymenshingh highways, from Army Golf Club bus stand to Abdullahpur bus stand, where 67 people were killed over around eight kilometers, he added.
DNCC Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Asaduzzaman stressed the need for coordinated efforts among all relevant agencies, saying awareness and compliance with traffic laws by pedestrians, passengers and drivers could significantly improve road safety.
DNCC Chief Engineer Brig Gen Syed Rakibul Hasan said data-driven decisions are crucial for effective interventions. He added that high-risk roads and intersections under DNCC will be redesigned to reduce fatalities, with plans for safer crossings, wider pedestrians and installation of zebra crossings.
BIGRS Coordinator Md Abdul Wadud highlighted the need for infrastructural improvements and strict enforcement of traffic laws, adding that joint efforts by DNCC and DMP are ongoing to remove illegal staunchers from footpaths to ensure safer movement for pedestrians.
Speakers at the event also underscored the importance of public awareness campaigns and controlled driving speeds to prevent road crashes, noting that each death represents a long term loss for affected families.