Shat Masjid Road is one of the busiest roads in Dhaka. As there is problems like- illegal parking, garbage, particular bus stops, moreover, absence of pedestrian friendly environment cause problems for the people. But the road can be converted into a safe and lively one with low expenditure. A working committee with coordination of all relevant agencies and relevant ward councilor is needed to ensure the changes. By this it will be possible to ensure pedestrian safety, accessibility, needed amenities (public toilet, sitting arrangements, shades etc). On 28^th March 2017, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET and Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) Trust jointly organized a view exchange meeting on ‘Making Shat Masjid Road Pedestrian Friendly: Our Proposals’ and speakers expressed above view there.

Under the supervision of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, students from Department of Urban and Regional Planning, BUET conducted a research on ‘Making Shat Masjid Road Pedestrian Friendly: Our Proposal. To share the findings of the research students of BUET MD Jishan Ahmed and Nawshin Tabassum said that, the obstacles towards making Shat Masjid Road Pedestrian Friendly are lack of pedestrian amenities, dominance of motorized vehicles, and weakness in implementing laws. By making an inclusive plan the problems can be solved. In this regard footpaths, zebra crossing, specific bus stops and vendor management should be ensured. The separate desk can be introduced for monitoring.

Speakers of the program said that, we tend to ignore pedestrians in the planning, that is why they are absent in the policies. City Corporation should play an important role to ensure pedestrian rights. Budget should be allocated for the proper development of pedestrian amenities and we should also focus on the needs of persons with disabilities. And vendors should be incorporated in the planning as they sell goods in reasonable price and also ensure safety in the footpaths, especially for the women.

The program was presided by Architect Mubassher Hussain and hosted by Program Manager of WBB Trust Maruf Hossain. The speakers of the program were Chairman of POBA, Abu Naser Khan; Former Chairman of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Golam Rahman; Associate Professor of BUET of Department of Urban and Regional Planning Musleh Uddin Hassan; Former General Secretary of BAPA Mohidul Haq Khan and Director of WBB Trust Gaous Pearee. Besides, Member Secretary of Unnayan Dhara Trust Aminur Rasul, Director of Taranga Plus Bus Kazi Borhan Uddin, President of Janashartha Unnayan Foundation DM Saqlain were present in the program.