Staff Reporter :
The financial loss of Tk 1.75 lakh crore is incurred every year, which is five percent of Bangladesh’s GDP, due to road accidents and traffic jams in Dhaka.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has submitted the above report stating the scenario of Bangladesh’s transport sector during a certificate distribution ceremony of the 6th ‘Social Science Research Techniques for Transportation Planning and Road Safety’ training programme on Sunday.
The research information conducted by Accident Research Institute (ARI) of BUET was disclosed by Professor Mohammad Mahbub Alam Talukder.
BUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Satya Prasad Majumdar presided over the function. Among others, Secretary of the Ministry of Planning Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty and BUET Pro-vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan and ARI Director Professor Hadiuzzaman also spoke on the occasion.
ARI Professor Mohammad Mahbub Alam Talukder presented a proposal titled ‘Bangabandhu’s Vision for Road Safety Promotion: Policy Lapse-Gaps and Moving Towards Designing Intervention’ through power points.
“The country suffers an annual loss of Tk 60,000 crore due to road accidents, which is two percent of the total GDP. Besides, in Dhaka alone, traffic jams cause an annual loss of Tk 1.5 lakh crore, which is three percent of the total GDP. The total loss per year is Tk 1.75 lakh crore,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Pradeep Ranjan Chakraborty said that in order to see Bangladesh as a developed country in 2041, emphasis should be laid on research.
“I would like to say that proper research be done on ensuring of safe roads. The research results should come to the ECNEC table in the form of recommendations,” the Planning Secretary said.
Satya Prasad Majumder said that it was necessary to do research on how to prevent the road accidents rather than research on post accidents.
“It is needed to monitor driver’s activities after issuing the driving license. If necessary, marking can be arranged within 100 numbers. In case of road accident or non-compliance with the law, negative marking system should be maintained. If that number falls below 40, their driving license will have to be canceled,” the BUET VC observed.
Drivers would be aware if such steps were taken and a at the same time the traffic system needs to be developed, he added.
He further said that the members of the public made aware of the need to abide by the road laws through mass media, billboards, etc.
The best three students in three categories were awarded at the ceremony. The winners were Bijan Haldar Joy, Mizanur Rahman and Ratna Khatun.
BUET’s Accident Research Institute (ARI) has been conducting the four-month training program since 2016 under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning.
