He made the remarks as the chief guest at a ceremony held at the Roads and Highways Department headquarters in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Monday (August 24), where 60 basic life support ambulances, 40 motorcycle ambulances and 80 highway patrol motorcycles were inaugurated under the Bangladesh Road Safety Project.
The minister said reducing road accidents and ensuring prompt medical treatment after accidents are among the government’s key priorities. To this end, the government plans to enact a new integrated road safety law by December 2027.
He said initiatives were being taken to relocate markets located alongside highways, construct necessary diversions at intersections of regional roads, and install clear road markings and signage.
Sheikh Rabiul Alam identified unfit vehicles, inexperienced drivers, speeding, failure to wear helmets and lack of awareness among pedestrians as major causes of road accidents. He also stressed the importance of proper driver training and medical fitness assessments.
On emergency medical services following accidents, the minister said the newly inaugurated ambulances and motorcycle ambulances would help deliver medical assistance rapidly to accident sites. Plans are also underway to establish dedicated units at hospitals located alongside highways and deploy one ambulance for every 10 kilometres.
He also announced initiatives to make trauma centres across the country fully operational. According to him, it is essential not only to take injured people to hospitals quickly but also to ensure they receive the necessary treatment after reaching the hospital.
Referring to World Bank loan assistance and government funding for the Bangladesh Road Safety Project, the minister said every taka allocated to the project must be used effectively to establish safer roads. No project funded with public money should be undertaken unless its benefits reach the people.
He said increasing public awareness is as important as enforcing laws. The government, relevant institutions and citizens must all fulfil their responsibilities from their respective positions. “If we fail to halve road accidents by 2030, all our efforts will have failed,” he said.
State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges and Railways Habibul Rashid, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit, senior officials from relevant ministries and agencies, and representatives of the World Bank attended the event.
The Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BRSP), jointly financed by the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank, is the country’s first multisectoral initiative based on the “Safe System Approach.” The project is being implemented jointly by the Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
