Dhaka, May 9 -- Dedicated cycling lanes on Bangladesh roads still remain more of a distant dream when each year globally, nearly 1.2 million people lose their lives on the roads, more than a quarter of them while walking or cycling.

The country's urban roads - especially in major cities like Dhaka and Chattogram - are already congested with mixed traffic - cars, rickshaws, buses, trucks and CNGs and with latest presence of growing battery-powered rickshaws.

These roads often lack even proper sidewalks, making the addition of cycle lanes impractical without a significant redesign.

"I didn't see any effective cycle lanes in Dhaka. There is a cycle lane in the city's Manik Miah Avenue, but it largely remains ineffective and occupied by ot...