RAJSHAHI, Oct 22, 2023 (BSS) - Massive awareness among the public in general
about traffic rules, regular training for drivers and necessary
infrastructure can be the crucial means of preventing road traffic accidents.
 
There is no way but to raise awareness among the masses to prevent road
accidents which is a matter of grave concern.
 
Administrative officials and other stakeholders came up with the observation
while addressing a post-rally discussion to mark the National Road Safety Day
2023 today.
 
Rajshahi Circle of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and District
administration jointly hosted the meeting at Nanking Darbar Hall in the city
with the theme of "Ain Mene Sarake Chali, Smart Bangladesh Gore Tuli".
 
Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Rajshahi Shamim Ahmed and Civil Surgeon Dr Abu
Sayeed Muhammad Faruque addressed the meeting as the chief and special guests
respectively with Additional District Magistrate Sabiha Sultana in the chair.
 
BRTA Director Ashfaqur Rahman, Executive Engineer of Local Government
Engineering Department Nasir Uddin, Executive Engineer of the Department of
Roads and Highways Abdul Hakim, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi
Metropolitan Police Helena Akter and local unit president of Nirapad Sarak
Chai Advocate Towfique Ahsan also addressed the meeting.
 
The discussants unequivocally called for strict enforcement of traffic rules
to reduce road accidents.
 
If the drivers drive their vehicles carefully the existing number of road
accidents could be reduced to a greater extent, they mentioned.
 
DC Shamim Ahmed told the meeting that the government has taken initiative to
establish training institutes in each district to bring the drivers under
training and refreshers training round the year.
 
Step has also been taken to incorporate the issue of road accidents and its
causes and prevention in the course-curriculum besides other various
programmes to reduce the country's road accidents by 50 percent within the
next 15 years, he added.
 
BRTA Deputy Director Engineer Ashrakur Rahman said the country experiences
over 5,000 road accidents every year that claim over 4,000 lives and injure a
huge number of people.
Around 250 people comprising government officials, human right activists,
leaders of road transport workers and representatives of transport owners
associations were present at the meeting.

Earlier, they brought out a rally from Shishu Academy Office premises
carrying banners and festoons to create awareness among the public in general
about the road accidents.