Different government bodies, NGOs and social organisations should make concerted efforts to bring down the number of road accidents in the country, said experts, civil society members and professionals working in a range of fields.
While addressing a discussion, they also emphasised taking creative initiatives to ensure safe journeys.
Trauma Link, a platform comprising the civil society, NGOs, social organisations, and volunteers providing primary healthcare services for those who received injuries in accidents, organised the discussion at the BIUM auditoriam in the capital yesterday.
Bidhan Chandra Paul, vice-president of Trauma Link, was the keynote speaker while John Moujall, an American doctor who sponsored a project of the organisation, and several others addressed the discussion.
“The first project of Trauma Link has already started. It is about providing emergency assistance to anyone facing an accident anywhere between Daudkandi and Potia intersections on Dhaka-Chittagong highway. Anyone can contact us to get help right after an accident,” Bidhan said.
He said Trauma Link volunteers, after receiving an emergency call, will arrange first aid for the victim, contact the fire service, and will also take the person to hospital.
“We have college students working as volunteers,” he added.
Noted columnist Syed Abul Maksud said no effective step had been taken to reduce the prevalence of road crash.
“Officials only focus on those sustaining injuries in accidents while families of the deceased are overlooked,” he said.
The essayist hailed Trauma Link’s activities, terming those important. He said the government, NGOs and other bodies should work together to help road accident victims.
Criticising the ongoing drive of Dhaka Metropolitan Police against jaywalking in the capital, Abul Maksud said even policemen do not duly comply with traffic rules.
“How are pedestrians expected to follow the rules when law enforcers themselves are not doing so?” he questioned.
He, however, urged all to abide by the traffic rules, considering it a responsibility.
Member of the Planning Commission Dr MA Sattar said Trauma Link’s activities should be turned into a public awareness campaign, and the government as well as NGOs should extend support to the initiative in order to spread it around the country.
He also came up with a number of recommendations to help Trauma Link improve and extend its operations to cover more areas in the country.
Professor Dr Mahbub Alam of the Accident Research Institute at Buet said no initiative in the country achieves sustainable result for the lack of supervision and coordination among the bodies concerned.
He said plans are initiated but are not implemented properly.
The professor also called on all to play a role in making initiatives, like the one taken by Trauma Link, successful.