Jatri Kalyan Samity urges political parties to prioritise public transport reforms in election manifestos
In Dhaka alone, traffic congestion leads to a loss of 3.2 million work hours daily, an annual economic loss of Tk98,000 crore
The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) has called on political parties to include pledges for improved public transport in their election manifestos to curb road accident deaths and alleviate severe traffic congestion.
BJKS Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury made the call during a discussion titled "We Want Political Commitment to Establish Passenger Rights" at Dhaka Reporters Unity today (13 September), marking Passenger Rights Day.
Mozammel said the 2018 Road Transport Act has failed to provide a viable solution as it was enacted without the input of passengers and civil society.
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He urged political parties to prioritise sustainable transport reforms in their election manifestos to address road accidents and traffic congestion.
In the last 11 years, the country has witnessed 62,619 road accidents, resulting in 86,690 deaths and 153,257 injuries
The BJKS leader stated that for over a decade, a lack of effective measures and widespread corruption in the transport sector have exacerbated road accidents, traffic congestion and pollution, causing severe damage to the nation's economy and social structure.
"In the last 11 years, the country has witnessed 62,619 road accidents, resulting in 86,690 deaths and 153,257 injuries," he said.
In Dhaka alone, traffic congestion leads to a loss of 3.2 million work hours daily, an annual economic loss of Tk98,000 crore and fuel waste worth Tk11,000 crore, while the risk of "family breakups due to traffic" has increased by 50%, he claimed.
Quoting health experts, Mozammel elaborated that prolonged traffic congestion not only causes loss of time and economic damage but also endangers citizens' mental and physical well-being.
"It is contributing to rising cases of high blood pressure, respiratory problems, heart disease and cancer. At the same time, it is leading to anxiety, irritability and family unrest. Children's intellectual development is being hampered, while traffic jams and unemployment are also major factors behind teenage delinquency."
