Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam has called upon all stakeholders to play a responsible role from their respective positions to curb road accidents and ensure safer highways across Bangladesh.
Addressing a programme organized to mark National Road Safety Day at the Road Bhaban in Dhaka's Tejgaon area on Wednesday, the minister emphasized that preventing road mishaps is not the sole responsibility of any single individual, institution, or ministry. He asserted that a sustainable resolution to the crisis is impossible without the concerted efforts of all parties tied to the transport sector, including the government, transport owners, workers, drivers, passengers, and relevant agencies.
Highlighting that the government accords utmost priority to halting the tragic loss of lives on roads, the minister urged stakeholders to abandon the culture of shifting blame and instead adopt unified, effective measures. He remarked that everyone present shares the common duty of ensuring road safety, while stressing the importance of mutual cooperation, regular dialogue, and strengthened coordination.
Addressing the broader context of road safety data, the minister pointed to a survey report indicating 31,000 annual fatalities from road accidents, underscoring the necessity of scrutinizing the sources, data-collection methodologies, and expertise involved in such findings. He cautioned that neither misleading the nation nor operating without factual accuracy would yield solutions, thereby reiterating the need for reliable data collection, rigorous analysis, and enhanced inter-agency coordination.
Turning to core safety prerequisites, the minister underscored the importance of driver competence, behavioral awareness, and rigorous vehicle fitness checks, noting that lasting solutions require addressing multifaceted causes rather than solely scapegoating drivers or vehicle defects. Furthermore, he reaffirmed Bangladesh's international commitment to halving road traffic fatalities by 2030, declaring the administration's resolute determination to establish safe roads at any cost through practical planning and accelerated implementation.
