ঢাকাশনিবার , ৮ অগাস্ট ২০২৬
In Chattogram city, 44 percent of vehicles do not comply with BRTA’s designated speed limits. By vehicle type, it was found that 70 percent of motorcycle riders violated the speed limit, significantly increasing the risk of road crashes in the city. The findings came from a survey conducted on behavioral risk factors in road use in Chattogram.
The results of the survey were presented on Wednesday (24 September), at a conference held at the Peninsula Hotel in the city. The event was jointly organized by Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU), Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB), and Vital Strategies. The chief guest at the event was the Chief Engineer of CCC, Md. Anisur Rahman.
The survey, titled “Road Safety Risk Factors in Chattogram: Status Summary Report 2024”, was carried out by JH-IIRU and CIPRB under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) to help reduce road crashes globally.
In his speech as the chief guest, CCC Chief Engineer Anisur Rahman said, “Compared to the size of our city, the length of roads we need is insufficient. Moreover, due to various practical reasons, it is not always possible for us to follow every standard in road construction. However, we are hopeful that we can overcome these complexities in the future. To ensure road safety in the city, CCC is going to establish a Road Safety Cell that will coordinate technical interventions such as placing speed signs and installing speed-calming measures. I believe today’s survey results will be instrumental in shaping our future action plans. We are working to build a green, clean, and healthy city—and safe roads are one of the key prerequisites for a healthy city.”
The event was moderated by Kazi Burhan Uddin, Project Manager of CIPRB’s Road Safety Program. The welcome remarks were delivered by CCC Executive Engineer Mahmud Shafqat Amin. Dr. Selim Mahmud Chowdhury, Director of CIPRB, explained the survey methodology, including site selection and data collection processes. He noted that in May 2024, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) issued new guidelines on vehicle speed limits. The guidelines set the maximum speed limit for highways and expressways at 80 km/h and delegated authority to local administrations to implement speed limits based on road type and vehicle category.
The survey results were presented by Dr. Shirin Wadhania, researcher at JH-IIRU. She highlighted that according to the Chattogram City Road Safety Report 2021–23, 92 percent of those killed in road crashes were vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, motorcyclists, and three-wheeler passengers.
She further explained that between December 2022 and November 2024, based on global standards (50 km/h on arterial roads and 30 km/h on local and collector roads), speed monitoring revealed that 34 percent of vehicles in the city’s roads exceeded the prescribed speed limit. On the other hand, on local and collector roads, 45 percent of vehicles violated the set speed limit. However, according to the BRTA’s speed limit guidelines, considering all types of vehicles and roads, 44 percent of vehicles were found to travel above the prescribed speed.
By vehicle category, motorcycles stood out, with 70 percent of them exceeding the prescribed speed. The study also revealed that speed limit violations were higher on weekends compared to weekdays—42 percent on working days and 47 percent on weekends.
To make city roads safer, Dr. Wadhania emphasized the importance of controlling vehicle speeds according to the guidelines. She recommended installing speed-calming measures, setting up speed signs, and designating lanes based on vehicle type, as well as prioritizing pedestrian-friendly road designs. She also called upon the Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) to strictly enforce speed limits.
The event was attended by officials from CCC, CMP, BRTA, senior representatives of government and non-government organizations, partners of BIGRS in Bangladesh, and civil society representatives. Participants also provided recommendations on how the findings of this report could be used in the future.
