Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication organized a Discussion with journalists on Building Media Professionalism for Road Safety through Constructive Journalism on June 02, 2022, at Hotel Lavinci, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka in cooperation with The Global Health Advocacy Incubator and the Global Road Safety Partnership.

The main objective of the program was to discuss the road safety issue in Bangladesh and introduce the works of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and Global Road Safety Partnership and the involvement of BNNRC with the Road safety initiative.

Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BNNRC welcomed the guests and journalists to the meeting. In his welcome speech, he mentioned the objective of the meeting and expressed his deep gratitude to the participants to attend the program.

He hoped that the initiative of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator and Global Road Safety Partnership in Bangladesh will play a significant role in promoting the Road Safety Issue in Bangladesh and BNNRC will be a part of the initiative has been working and involvement of BNNRC with the Road safety initiative.

Mr. Shariful Alam, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator’s In-Country Advocacy Coordinator, Bangladesh mentioned that GHAI has been working with some other Government and Non-government organizations are working as a partner as per the guidelines of the World Health Organization. We support organizations to plan and execute locally-led advocacy campaigns. Our efforts have helped pass policies in more than 60 countries. We have been working in Bangladesh with some government and non-government partners.

Mr. Taifur Rahman, Program Manager, Global Advocacy & Grants Program, the Global Road Safety Partnership pointed out that the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) as a non-profit organization has been working in response to the global recognition of road crash deaths and injuries as a human-made health crisis in 15 countries across the globe and working with INGOs, development agencies, governments, businesses, and civil society organizations. The main objective of GRSP is to create and support multi-sector road safety partnerships that are engaged with front-line good practice road safety interventions in countries and communities. We are working for capacity building and training of road safety practitioners at all levels, provide road safety program coordination at the global level and are a recognized expert source of road safety knowledge and good practice.

Ms. Mena El-Turky, Associate Director for Advocacy with GHAI’s road safety program mentioned in her speech that the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) supports civil society organizations that advocate for public health policies that reduce death and disease. It offers targeted expertise in every aspect of an advocacy campaign. strengthen advocacy capacity and plan innovative campaigns to work in different countries, cultures, and contexts. We are providing technical assistance to advocates, journalists, and government officials

List of the Journalists

A lively question-answer session took place and the journalists mentioned it is difficult to get authentic data about the issue hospital sources, police sources, and other government sources are providing different data and numbers are different.

It is informed in the meeting that the organizations are working for conducting research on the safety issue, road design, behavioral change and some other issues. The world Bank has been started a project to improve the data management systems and awareness raising for all including pedestrians, drivers, and owners for maintaining traffic rules.

The global trends and road safety-focused developments were combined to inform this plan. Several important themes emerged during the plan’s development which included the need for the ‘Safe System. GRSP and GHAI exclusively work toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The two goals that are directly linked to road safety are Target 3.6: the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. The meeting was ended followed by a dinner.