To amplify the call for safer streets, Brac Road Safety Program observed the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week 2025 (Monday-Sunday) through a series of impactful initiatives promoting safe walking and cycling.
This year’s theme, "Streets for Life – Make Walking Safe and Make Cycling Safe", highlights the need to redesign roads to protect the most vulnerable.
In 2024, Bangladesh recorded more than 8,500 road traffic fatalities, an 8.11% increase from the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.
Alarmingly, pedestrians accounted for 1,879 of these deaths, underscoring the urgent need for improved walking and cycling infrastructure.
As part of the observance, Brac, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), organized a rally on Friday, at Hatirjheel, Dhaka.
The rally commenced at the Amphitheatre and concluded at Jheelpar Park, drawing participation from citizens, policymakers, and development stakeholders.
Mohammed Yasin, chairman, BRTA, led the rally alongside Md Sarwar, BPM, additional police commissioner (Traffic), Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and Ahmed Najmul Hussain, director, Brac Road Safety Program.
Mohammed Yasin noted that walking, once a regular habit for many, has increasingly been replaced by the use of motor vehicles, even for short distances.
He reiterated the importance of the campaign’s message and urged a return to walking and cycling as part of daily routines – not only to improve public health but also to ease traffic congestion.
He encouraged individuals to incorporate at least 30 minutes of walking into their daily schedules, such as walking home from work.
Md Sarwar emphasized the importance of walking and cycling as viable, everyday modes of commute.
He highlighted that ensuring pedestrian safety also requires adherence to traffic rules – such as using footpaths and foot overbridges.
He further added that the authorities are working to keep walking lanes free from hawkers to ensure unobstructed and safer pedestrian movement.
Ahmed Najmul Hussain reflected on the rally’s purpose, stressing the need to make walking and cycling safe, sustainable, and accessible options for all.
He pointed out that these active modes of transport not only contribute to individual health – by helping to prevent heart disease, obesity, and mental stress – but also help reduce air pollution and urban traffic congestion.
Earlier in the week, on Thursday, Brac also organized a human chain in front of Brac at 66, Mohakhali, where staff and citizens gathered holding placards advocating for safer urban mobility.
Brac Road Safety Program has been operational since 2001 with the aim of increasing the safety of all road users.
An important component of its activities is awareness-raising of the community and training on safe road use.
The program is also engaged in preventing gender based violence and sexual harassment in public transport through awareness raising, capacity development of transport operators, transport association leaders, members of public and private sector stakeholder organizations and developing reporting and response mechanisms.
Additionally, advocacy for legislation change for enhancing road safety is another significant activity that Brac Road Safety Program is engaged in.
