Bangladesh can cost-effectively prevent approximately 50,000 deaths in the next 20 years

Dhaka, 03 July 2010. In the next 20 years, Bangladesh can prevent up to 30,000 deaths and serious injuries in the Dhaka-Sylhet highway and 18,000 in the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway cost-effectively. This was discussed Yesterday (02.08.10) in a workshop on road safety arranged by BRAC and The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP). The workshop was based on the overview report of the Preliminary iRAP Assessment Results.

During the workshop Mr. Greg Smith, the Regional Director, Asia Pacific, iRAP delivered an in depth informative multimedia presentation on the overview report. iRAP is a pilot project, that is assessing the conditions to tackle the road safety challenge of the N2(Dhaka-Sylhet) and N3(Dhaka-Mymensingh) highways.

The report says, Bangladesh is one of the most overly dense populations and everyday there is an average of 50 deaths from road accidents here. These accidents are taking the lives of the people at their most productive ages like 10 to 24. In recent years there is a boost of economic productivity in the country which resulted in almost 8% motor vehicles increase on the roads.  ’’

The speakers in the workshop emphasized on the setting up of a road safety division so that both vehicle drivers and other road users can be educated about the proper use of roads. Besides most of the transports are out of order and some are moving without legal documents.

Mr.Md. Abdul Khalque, Chief Engineer, RHD was the chief guest where as Ms. Shakireh Ispahani gave an introduction of the project on behalf of the FIA Foundation. Mr. Ahmed Nazmul Hussain, Director and in charge of BRAC Community Road Safety Project delivered a welcome speech.    

After that an interactive discussion among the attendees moderated by Prof. Md. Majharul Hoque, Ph.D (Department of Civil Engineering, BUET). The other attendees were the additional Chief Engineer, Executives directors from several NGOs, representatives from Ministry of Communications, World Bank, ADB, LGED, Highway police and Chevron Oil.