Noting that road accidents have turned into 'an epidemic worse than coronavirus', experts at a workshop stressed the very important role of the media in raising public awareness to tackle the problem.

They were speaking at a workshop on ‘Establishment of Safe Roads and Media’ arranged by the National Institute of Mass Communication, better known as Nimco, at the latter's auditorium in the capital on Monday.

Shipping and Communications Reporters Forum (SCRF) was present at the workshop.

“To ensure road safety in Bangladesh, the media will have to play a stronger role in sustainable integrated road management and proper implementation of the existing road laws,” Farid Hossain, editor of UNB, said at the workshop.

He also stressed the need for increasing the skill level of the drivers and helpers of different vehicles, stopping unfit vehicles from plying on the highways, and raising awareness among passengers and pedestrians.

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Sufi Zakir Hossain, additional director general of Nimco, said discipline has to be brought back in the public transport sector to reduce road accidents and in this regard, Nimco is working to create public awareness.

Zahirul Islam, deputy secretary of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, said the media can play a vital role by creating public awareness in this regard.

The session was presided over by Dr Maruf Newaz, deputy director of Nimco, while another deputy director of Nimco Sumona Parvin, its assistant director Tanjim Tamanna, president of SCRF Ashish Kumar Dey, and its general secretary Jahangir Alam also spoke at the programme, among others.

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