Bangladesh calls for strong global accountability, coordination to reduce road accident

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has called for building strong institutions alongside ensuring effective implementation, inter-institutional coordination, and further strengthening accountability to reduce global fatalities and severe injuries caused by road accidents.

He made the call while co-chairing a multilateral panel session on road safety held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday (July 21). He assumed the role as part of the international recognition of Bangladesh's leadership in improving road safety.

In his speech, Shaikh Rabiul Alam stated that forming strong institutions alone is not enough; ensuring the effective implementation of those institutions across every tier of the road transport system is equally crucial.

He said that to ensure road safety, it is necessary to conduct coordinated activities among all relevant institutions—including transport, health, police, finance, education, environment, and local government—along with a clear division of responsibilities and alignment between policymaking and execution.

The minister added that active participation from local government, the private sector, civil society, educational institutions, and youth can play a vital role in improving road safety. However, he emphasized that these initiatives must operate under effective government leadership, cohesive coordination, and a structured framework of accountability.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam is leading the Bangladeshi delegation at the high-level meeting on road safety taking place at the UN Headquarters. The delegation also includes Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr. Mohammad Ziaul Haque and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury.