Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Sunday expressed deep concern over motorcycle accidents, emphasizing the need for immediate action and calling for a holistic approach to introduce standard motorcycle helmets.
The adviser made these calls at an event titled "Raise awareness and promote the enforcement of helmet standards in Bangladesh," organized by the World Bank and Brac, in collaboration with the government.
The event aimed to promote the use of high-quality, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI)-certified helmets, ensuring that helmets serve as life-saving devices rather than mere legal requirements.
Fouzul urged all stakeholders to move beyond discussions and take concrete steps to save lives, as motorcycle accidents have become a major concern in Bangladesh in recent years.
Notably, in 2024 alone, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) reported that motorcycle accidents resulted in 1,706 deaths -- 31.13% of all road fatalities.
Alarmingly, in January 2025, motorcycles were responsible for 43.42% of all road-related deaths.
Despite existing regulations, weak enforcement has allowed substandard helmets to flood the market, putting millions of riders at risk.
While speaking as chief guest, the adviser outlined several key recommendations for improving road safety, including motorcyclist training, identifying and marking accident-prone areas, enhancing pedestrian safety, and implementing speed monitoring, breathalyzer tests, and dope testing.
He also stressed the importance of improving road alignment in critical areas and strengthening emergency response systems with better trauma centres and ambulances.
Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, additional inspector general of police, emphasized the need for locally manufactured standard helmets to enhance affordability and accessibility while ensuring that imported helmets meet the required safety standards.
He also stressed the importance of clear and user-friendly certification processes, enabling riders to easily identify standardized and internationally certified helmets.
BRTA Chairman Mohammad Yasin emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility and suggested prioritizing high-risk areas, such as 300 Feet Road leading to Purbachal, where the rate of motorcycle accidents is higher, as a starting point for a targeted awareness campaign.
He stressed the importance of a coordinated effort, particularly in encouraging younger riders to adopt standard helmet use.
World Bank Country Director Gayle Martin reiterated the World Bank’s commitment to advancing road safety in Bangladesh.
She emphasized the importance of addressing both the supply chain and cost of standardized helmets as their use becomes more widespread.
While acknowledging progress in regulation, she noted that affordability remains a key concern.
To ensure accessible solutions, she called for a collective effort to engage manufacturers and develop strategies that balance both regulation and affordability.
Ahmed Najmul Hussain, director, Brac's Road Safety Program, highlighted gaps in public awareness and law enforcement regarding standard helmet use.
He urged all stakeholders to ensure compliance with BSTI-standardized helmets to prevent road crashes and emphasized the urgent need for traffic police training on identifying standard helmets, understanding relevant laws, and enforcing penalties for violations.
