DHAKA, Oct 21, 2023 (BSS) - The National Road Safety Day will be observed in the country tomorrow in a befitting manner.

This year's theme of the day is 'Ain Meney Sorokey Choli, Smart Bangladesh Gori (Let us follow the law on road and build a smart Bangladesh).

President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today issued separate messages on the eve of the National Road Safety Day.

The President, in his message, said there is no substitute for better transport system in building sustainable development and smart Bangladesh.

To that end, the multi-faceted initiative taken by the government to develop advanced and efficient communication system has opened a new horizon in the transport sector, he added.

Noting that a wide communication network has been developed across the country, the head of the state said that according to the Perspective Plan-2041, a plan has been undertaken to upgrade all highways of the country to six lanes by 2030 and to eight lanes by 2041.

Bangladesh has recently entered the era of metro-rail and elevated expressways, he said, adding that Bangabandhu Tunnel has been made in Karnaphuli, he said.

The socio-economic condition of the southern region has changed with the launch of the Padma Bridge, a symbol of Bangalee's self-esteem, he continued.

Besides, construction of road dividers, simplification of dangerous turns, construction of flyovers, underpasses and overpasses, installation/restoration of traffic signs and signals and training of drivers are continuing to ensure easy, comfortable and risk-free road communication, he mentioned.

In building Smart Bangladesh, he said these steps have created a new Bangladesh with the ray of new hope and dreams.

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the Greatest Bangalee of All Time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took different programmes and plans to build a modern road transport system in the war-ravaged Bangladesh.

Within the year of 1974, he rebuilt all the bridges destroyed during the Liberation War and made those usable, she said.

Besides, Bangabandhu built several new bridges along with the construction of new roads, she said, adding that in the first five-year plan of the Bangladesh government, the father of the nation gave priority to the road transport sector and started building a modern road network.

Following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation, she said the Awami League-led government is working towards the implementation of the three five-year plans, the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Perspective Plan-2041 for the expansion of uninterrupted and time-saving transportation and goods transportation through the development of safe road networks.

She added that the multi-purpose Padma Bridge, which was implemented with country's own funding, is playing a significant role in the country's economy, along with maintaining extensive communication system in the entire country.

The premier said the government considers the unprecedented development in the road transport system very important alongside strengthening the safe road system.

"To make the road safer, we have taken various initiatives including installing dividers, simplifying turns, upgrading the road to 4 lanes, constructing rest rooms for drivers on the highway and installing speed controllers," she said.

"We have formed a task force to bring discipline in the road transport sector, create efficient drivers and control accidents," she added.

The government aims to establish a modern, technology-based, advanced, sustainable and safe highway network, she mentioned.

In order to prevent road accidents and ensure road safety, he urged all concerned including transport owners-workers, passengers and pedestrians to work together from their respective positions with the government.

The premier hoped all concerned will work diligently for safe roads.

"With the collective efforts of all, we will be able to prevent unwanted road accidents, Insha Allah," the premier.

Both the President and the Prime Minister wished success of all programmes of the day.