, May 18 -- Speakers at an event in the capital on Sunday underscored the urgent need for a Road Safety Act to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, particularly in traffic-congested cities like Dhaka.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 50 percent of annual road crash fatalities globally involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Experts said walking and cycling could significantly ease Dhaka's traffic congestion, which causes the daily loss of valuable working hours.

The call came at the inaugural session of a Youth Campaign organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission to mark the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week. This year's theme is "Streets for Life: Making Walking and Cycling Safe."

Sharmeen Rahman, Road Sa...