Experts have advocated using Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to cut down traffic accidents that annually claim around 4,000 lives, cause as many injuries and cost around Tk50bn, nearly 2% of the national GDP, in Bangladesh.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Dr Hamadoun I Toure said today in their messages marking the 45th World Telecommunications and Information Society Day that Bangladesh is the second most unsafe country in this regard.
The message claimed that 40% of the accidents occur on the national highways, 33% on regional highways and feeder roads and the rest on city roads.
Around 1.81m motor vehicles and 210,000 non-motorised vehicles are damaged every year.
“The lack of ICT enabled intelligent transport systems in the country lead to frequent accidents,” Dr Tanvirul Hasan, director of Accident Research Institute of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
He said even though there are already lots of safety applications in developed countries, no thought is being given to their introduction in Bangladesh. “Real time information of transport system should also be available for drivers, as it would reduce mishaps.”
Sources have pointed out that the hazardous road intersections of Dhaka city are also the cause of some accidents. Last year, 158 people died crossing the road, while another 75 died while crossing rail tracks.
Experts claimed that these accidents can be cut down if the drivers are provided with information and sensitised on the issue.
Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and Roads and Highways Division (RHD) said that they would be marking the telecom day, which advocates bringing people of all races closer to each other around the globe, based on the theme “ICTs and Improving Road Safety.”
LGED sources said traffic accidents claim around 1.3 million lives and injure more than 20 million others around the globe.
A paper on this topic is scheduled to be read out in a programme organised by the post and telecom ministry at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to attend as the chief guest.
On the occasion, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages, describing the theme as time-worthy and relevant in the present global context. The president said ICT started facilitating the people of all faiths irrespective of their geographical locations, bringing them closer to each other than ever before.
The World Telecommunication Day was first marked in 1969 and is observed every year on May 17. It has also been marked as the "World Information Society Day" since 2006. Every year, the government arranges a series of seminars, road shows, online essay competition, and other programmes for the occasion.