With the slogan “Let the road be safe for all”, Steps Towards Development organized an Orientation Programof the Policy Influence Group (PIG) at a restaurant in Chattogram city on October 10, 2024. The Policy Influence Group is consisting of citizens, students and youth from different classes and professions with the aim of strengthening the road movement. Vice President of the Central Executive Council of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and Chairperson of Chittagong Social Development Forum (CSDF) SM Najer Hossain presided over the orientation. Shaheda Ferdouse Munni, Advocacy and Communication Coordinator of Steps Towards Development (Dhaka) was present in the orientation as the facilitator. Prominent Journalist and President of District Social Entrepreneurs Council Journalist M Nasirul Haque, Chittagong Divisional General Secretary of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Kazi Iqbal Bahar Saberi, General Secretary of Chittagong Social Development Forum (CSDA) and prominent women leader Jasmine Sultana Paru were present as guest discussant.
At the beginning of the orientation, Shaheda Ferdouse Munni gave a brief presentation on the profile and activities of Steps Towards Development as well as the Road Safety Coalition Bangladesh. She later gave an overview of the project titled “Strengthening Road Safety Act and Civil Society Action in Bangladesh”. Afterwards, she provided an insight into the roles and responsibilities of PIG group members and project work plan. Lastly, some discussion was held on the upcoming campaign programs on road safety in October and November 2024.
Discussants said that although the new Road Transport Act was enacted in 2018 in the wake of nationwide student movements demanding safe roads, it is not friendly to passengers and pedestrians but to the transport owners’ association. As a result, that law has created chaos in the country’s public transportation. After the August 5 student uprising, students worked hard to restore order on public transport. But as soon as the students left the road, it returned to its previous form. To bring order to public transport, law enforcement authorities, passengers, and owner-workers must work together in a coordinated effort. And unless various representatives of civil society take local initiatives in this regard, it is not possible to stop the procession of deaths on the roads. Above all, a comprehensive Road Safety Law is much needed to ensure safe road for all.
In the open discussion, Joint Secretary of CAB Chittagong Metropolitan Mohammad Salim Jahangir, Right Chittagong Coordinator Osman Jahangir, Former Councilor of Chittagong City Corporation Advocate Rehena Begum Ranu, CAB Chittagong Metropolitan Organizing Secretary Jannatul Ferdous, CAB Sadarghat President Shaheen Chowdhury, Joint Secretary of District Social Entrepreneurs Council Mohammad Jane Alam, Chandgaon Public School and College President Ismail Farooqui, CAB Youth Group Chittagong Metropolitan President Abu Hanif Noman, Boalkhali Upazila Chairmen’s Association Ex-President Noor Mohammad, North District Women Party General Secretary Laila Yasmin, Chittagong Metropolitan Women’s Party Co-President Saima Haque, student leader Russell Uddin, Sidratul Muntaha, Raisul Islam, Tanya Sultana, Moin Bin Salim etc. took part.
After the open discussion, Policy Influence Group (PIG) was formed based on everyone’s opinion and it was facilitated by Kazi Iqbal Bahar Saberi, Chittagong Divisional General Secretary of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB). Columnist Muhammad Musa Khan was declared as the convener of the Policy Influence Group (PIG), former councilor of Chittagong City Corporation Jesmina Khan as the joint convener, Daily Purbadesh news chief Abu Musharraf Russell as the member secretary and young social organizer Saidur Rahman as a joint member secretary. Other members of the 15-members convening committee were – Joint Convener M Noor Mohammad Chairman, Osman Jahangir, Russell Uddin, Tania Sultana, Sidratul Muntaha, Raisul Islam, Farzeen Hossain, Labiba Fairuz and Laila Yasmin.
