The National Road Safety Day will be observed in the country tomorrow (Monday) amid different programmes, including rallies and discussions.
This year’s theme of the day is: ‘Ain mene cholbo, nirapod shorok gorbo’ (We will make streets safe by following rules).
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday issued separate messages on the eve of the National Road Safety Day.
President Hamid, in his message, said the road safety issue is very important nowadays as the number of vehicles is increasing gradually with the rise in the number of passengers, reports BSS.
Hamid said the government has taken massive programmes, including introduction of one-way movement, upgrading national highways into four-lane roads, constructing dividers, setting up cautionary sign boards and training programmes for drivers to make the roads safe.
But, Hamid said, the passengers have to follow the traffic laws to avoid road accidents.
He hoped that the drivers, owners, concerned organizations, pedestrians and law enforcement agencies will play effective roles along with the government.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Bangladesh is committed to reduce the number of injured and killed people to half by 2020 as per the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 and Goal-3.6 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
“I think that the observance of the National Road Safety Day will create more awareness among the people,” she said.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said, created a proper transportation system within a short time by repairing and reconstructing the war-ravaged roads.
The present government is also constructing the infrastructures of highways compatible to the 21st century, she added.
“We are working to create sustainable, safe and excellent road infrastructures as well as a modern mass transport system,” Sheikh Hasina said.
The government also upgraded different highways into four lanes, constructed new roads, bridge-culverts, flyovers and bypass, she said.
The President and the Prime Minister wished success of all programmes of the day.