Dhaka:Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman highlighted the necessity of accurately documenting the causes of death to determine the true extent of road crashes in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rahman made these remarks during a discussion on behavioral risks linked to road crashes at the DMP headquarters. He emphasized the importance of recording the actual cause of death on death certificates to ensure reliable data on road crash fatalities.
The meeting, organized by the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) with support from the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), aimed to identify behavioral risk factors contributing to road crashes and discuss potential measures under existing laws.
Rahman also advocated for enhancing the collection of road crash data from district and upazila-level media reports, in addition to police records, to better understand the magnitude of road crashes and develop effective prevention strategies.
Participants of the meeting supported the proposal for a coordinated study that would compile data from hospitals across Dhaka along with police records. This integrated database is expected to reduce discrepancies and offer a clearer picture of road crash fatalities and injuries.
Representatives from BIGRS, the Department of Environment, and the Road Safety Coalition Bangladesh also stressed the importance of seatbelt use, child restraints, reducing noise pollution, and raising awareness among drivers and pedestrians. A BIGRS representative noted that 400 police personnel have undergone specialized training to enhance their capacity to enforce traffic laws.
The meeting was attended by initiative coordinators from BIGRS, deputy commissioners of DMP's eight traffic divisions, and representatives from the Department of Environment and Road Safety Coalition Bangladesh.