LAB’ 02, Nirapad Sarak Chai, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA), Green Voice, Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, Toru Pallab, Bangladesh Kite Federation and Bangladesh Cyclist Federation jointly organized a citizen rally on 14^th July 2017 in front of National Press Club on demand of ensuring road safety throughout the country.  

Speakers of the program said that, we need to change our mentality of violating traffic rules in order to reduce the road accident rate.  One of the major reasons of road accident is violating traffic rules. Pedestrians are neglected in transport planning while the motorized vehicles, especially private cars are given priority. As a result, number of road accidents has also increased. In these circumstances, it is necessary to ensure an integrated traffic management system with walking, cycling and public transport. Besides, private cars should be controlled and public transportation should be developed. Also efforts should be taken to encourage people to use public transport. Besides, pedestrians and drivers should be aware about the laws. So it is important to spread awareness among people about those. It is also important to ensure implement of laws and regularly monitor the traffic system.

From the demonstration, participants demanded a safe environment for pedestrians and non-motorized transports, to stop vehicle movement in the wrong direction, increase accountability and punishment for violating laws, implement speed limit and to ensure a integrated transportation system with walking, cycling and public transport.

The citizens’ rally was presided by the General Secretary of Bangladesh Kite Federation and Joint Secretary of BAPA, MD. Shahjahan Mridha Benu and moderated by Program Manager of WBB Trust, Maruf Hossain. Speaker of the program were Cultural Personnel M. Hamid, Chairman of Nirapad Sarak Chai, Ilias Kanchan, Law Expert Saiful Alam, Joint Secretary of BAPA, Mihir Biswas and Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of POBA, Abdus Sobhan, Shikder Maruf Yajdani and MD Najimuddin Ahmed from LAB’02, Chairman of Bangabandhu Research Council Lion MD Goni Miah, Babul AJF, Member Secretary of Adi Dhakabashi Forum, Jabed Jahan, SM Azad from Nirapad Srak Chai, General Secretary of Taru Pallab, Mokarram Hossain and many more.  Besides, Joint Secretary of BAPA, MD Alamgir Kabir, Assistant Coordinator of Green Voice, Humayun Kabir Suman and participants from all co organizers were present in the rally.

Considering the importance of the demand, Columnist Syed Abul Moksud, Environment Scientist Dwijen Sharma, Professor of Economics department of Dhaka University MM Akash and Media Personnel Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Winner of Everest Summit MA Muhit and Nishat Mazumder expressed solidarity with the program.