Let’s walk to school, save health and Environment- students from four schools in Rayerbazar area demanded to control vehicle speed in the narrow streets to ensure safe walking to school with this slogan. Speed of the vehicle is a threat while walking and honking of the vehicle is really disturbing. On 1^st March 2017, students of four schools (Ali Hossain Gorlss School, Dhanmondi kachikantha High School, Dhaka Ideal Cadet School and Alif Ideal Public School) organized an awareness campaign, supported by Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, on “Call for action to Ensure Safe Walking to School". The awareness campaign was followed

Speakers of the campaign said that, massive usage of private car is one of the biggest reasons of traffic jam in Dhaka city. One car is used to carry one child and that worsen the situation. Getting children admitted in distant schools, security threat, social status etc reasons are increasing the dependency upon cars. As there is lack of convenient walking environment, people feel discouraged to walk. If equal standard school is ensured in all the communities, then guardians will be encouraged to send children in the community schools. It will decrease the use of motor vehicles as well as congestion. And that will ease walking. Government has declared 40% quota for the local students. Ensuring it can be a good opportunity to encourage walking. Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust conducted a survey in 5 schools of Rayerbazar and they found out that 95% children walk to school.

Speakers also said that, though there is various obstacles for walking even then most of the children walk to school. If the community people become aware it will be easier to remove the obstacles. If it is possible to make the children’s walking environment safe, then the usage of private cars, fuel consumption and congestion.

The students demanded to control car speed, stop honking, stop illegal car parking, stop throwing garbage and stop social crime to encourage walking. The discussion meeting was moderated by Maruf Hossain, Program Manager, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and presided by Gaous Pearee, Director, Admin, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust. The speakers of the program were Nasrin Akter, Teacher, Dhanmondi Kachikantha High School, Zerin Sultana, Teacher, Ali Hossain Girls School, MA Mannan Monir, Head Master, Dhaka Ideal Cadet School and Jewel Hassan, Head Master, Alif Ideal Public School. The demonstration was conducted by Naznin Kabir, Deputy Program Manager, Ziaur Rahman, Senior Project Officer, Atiqur Rahman, Project Officer, Naima Akter, Assistant Advocacy Officer, Tanjida Haque, Assistant Advocacy Officer, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust and students from four schools.