Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam on Monday said the government aims to halve deaths from road crashes by 2030, stressing that no loss of life caused by negligence, arbitrariness or failure to perform duties can be accepted.
“The government aims to formulate a comprehensive Road Safety Act by December 2027 and halve road crash deaths by 2030,” the minister said while addressing a workshop titled “Road Safety and Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Skills for Road Maintenance of the Roads and Highways Department” at a city hotel.
The minister said nearly 5,000 people die in road crashes in Bangladesh every year, urged all concerned to properly perform their respective responsibilities to achieve the target and called on field-level officials to play a more active role in preventing road crashes.
Although substantial funds are being spent on road safety, Rabiul called for an assessment of how much benefit is actually being delivered by the projects undertaken.
He said accident-prone areas must be identified and the causes of crashes analysed, with decisions based on reliable data and evidence. “Instead of making decisions based on assumptions, accident data should be used in planning future road construction and major infrastructure projects.”
Calling for roads to be treated as national assets rather than merely routes for transportation, the minister said road safety and maintenance must be given priority from the very beginning of road construction.
Repair and maintenance work should be undertaken before roads suffer major damage, he said, stressing the need to change the mindset that projects should not be taken up until roads are sufficiently damaged.
The minister also stressed the need to establish a specialised unit within the police for ensuring road safety.
Members of the proposed unit should receive specialised training in road safety and traffic management, while continuity in their assignments should be ensured so that their acquired knowledge and experience can be effectively utilised, he said.
Rabiul also emphasised the need to produce skilled drivers, ensure vehicle fitness, control speed, enforce helmet use among motorcyclists and raise public awareness. “Without effective measures in these areas, ensuring road safety would remain difficult.”
Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Habibur Rashid, said road safety was not merely an engineering issue but was closely linked to public health, social wellbeing and economic development.
He stressed strengthening institutional capacity for road safety management and enhancing coordinated cooperation among all relevant stakeholders.
Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Economic Relations Division, Planning Commission, Finance Division, Roads and Highways Division, development partners, consulting firms and the media attended the workshop.
At the closing session, participants expressed their commitment to working together to build a safe, smart and sustainable road transport system in Bangladesh.