Calls Grow for School-Based Road Safety Programs After 360 Student Deaths

Bangladesh’s road network has turned lethal for students, with 360 young lives lost between January and June of this year, according to data released by the national passenger welfare body. The association also reported 109 injuries among school‑age commuters during the same period. Monthly data shows a spike in March (67 deaths) and May (73 deaths), indicating that existing safety measures are far from adequate.

The secretary of the association, Mojammel Haq Chowdhury, reminded the public of the 2011 Mirsharai disaster, where a mini‑truck carrying schoolchildren overturned into a ditch, killing 45 people. He argued that the tragedy did not lead to a lasting road‑safety awareness drive, leaving students and families vulnerable.

In a bid to halt the continuing loss of life, the welfare committee has submitted five actionable recommendations to authorities: inclusion of road‑safety topics in school curricula, compulsory monthly safety sessions conducted by qualified professionals, installation of zebra crossings and prominent signage near schools on national and regional highways, deployment of trained “road safety guard” volunteers wearing reflective gear and red flags to manage traffic flow, and establishment of school‑level road‑safety committees with active participation from teachers and pupils. The committee stresses that immediate adoption of these measures is essential to safeguard Bangladesh’s future generations.