Dhaka city lacks enough public spaces-parks and playgrounds. Walking to school can meet the needs of physical activity of children and adolescents. Due to reckless driving, broken sidewalks, lack of zebra crossing, illegal parking on sidewalks, lack of safe walking environment, many children and their parents feel discouraged to walk. On January 8, 2022, at 11.00 am, South Point School and College, Mailbag Branch, AstraZeneca, Pallima Sangsad, and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust jointly organized a view exchange meeting at South Point School and College and the parents of South Point School and College have demanded to ensure adequate zebra crossings and obstacle free sidewalks to ensure safe walking environment for children.

Hafizur Rahman Moyna, Chairman of Nagorik Odhikar Shongrokkhon Forum, presided over the meeting and Ziaur Rahman, Senior Project Manager, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust moderated it. Naima Akter, Project Manager of WBB Trust was present as keynote speaker. Also, Solaiman Kabir, Coordinator of South Point School and College, ATM Mashiur Rahman, Kazi Sohail Rana, Afroza Akhtar, and others also spoke at the meeting.

Speakers at the meeting said that due to lack of safe walking environment in Dhaka, many people prefer private vehicles, which leads to increased traffic jams, pollution, accidents, etc. Although most of the people in the city travel on foot, the walking environment has become more unsafe for them. Dhaka city lacks enough parks and playgrounds. Walking to school can be a means of physical activity for students. But they are being deprived of this opportunity due to lack of safe and convenient environment. The students who travel in cars and sit in traffic jams for a long time are under a lot of stress which in turn increases the risk of non-communicable diseases.

The speakers further said that at present children are addicted to unhealthy food. One of the reasons for this is the attractive packaging, low price compared to healthy and balanced food, availability etc. Uncontrolled advertising of unhealthy foods is another reason of increased attraction. Along with health, the excessive consumption of packaged food leads to plastic pollution and extremely harmful to our environment. Considering the welfare of future generations, we should avoid consuming soft drinks, fast food, junk food, packaged food and eat healthy food i.e. vegetables-fresh fruits etc.

The guardians said that the city authorities of the developed world have focused on creating a safe walking and cycling environment considering the various benefits. There is a charter for safe routes to school. If such initiatives are also taken by the Dhaka city authorities, the city dwellers will benefit, and safety will be ensured for the children and teenagers to walk to and from school. Creating opportunities for community-based sports and socialization by creating car free street events will contribute to the development of physical and mental health. Strict law enforcement is important as well. Above all, the responsible behavior of parents is vital into instill good habits in their children.