NHFB & BOS Joint Program · Supported by GRSP / IFRC

Road Safety and Injury Prevention Program

A coordinated advocacy and public health initiative to reduce road crash deaths and injuries in Bangladesh — through evidence, policy, and community action.

1.19M
Deaths/Year Globally
31,578
BD Road Deaths (2021)
92%
In Low-Income Countries
−50%
Target by 2030 (UN)
About the Program

The Road Safety Crisis
in Bangladesh

Worldwide approximately 1.19 million people die each year due to road crashes — the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5–29 years. Between 20–50 million more suffer non-fatal injuries.

In Bangladesh, WHO reported 31,578 road crash deaths in 2021. Fatality rates rose from 15.3 per 100,000 (2016) to 18.6 (2021) — a dangerous upward trend.

WHO classified road crashes as a preventable non-communicable disease. Since 2022, NHFB and BOS jointly implemented this program, supported by GRSP hosted by IFRC.

UN declared the Decade of Road Safety 2021–2030, targeting at least 50% reduction in deaths and injuries — aligned with SDG Goals 3.6 and 11.2.

Program Partnership

National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh (NHFB)
Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society (BOS)
Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), hosted by IFRC
Bangladesh Network for NCD Control & Prevention (BNNCP)

Safe System Approach

🛣️ Safe Roads🚗 Safe Vehicles🏎️ Safe Speed👤 Safe Road Users🏥 Post-Crash Response
Program Highlights

Six Key Focus Areas

Our integrated approach addresses road safety from multiple angles — evidence, policy, law, awareness, and community.

⚖️

Policy Advocacy

Engaging ministries — RTHD, BRTA, DTCA, RHD, DNCC, DSCC & LGD — to enact evidence-based road safety laws using the Safe System Approach.

🔬

Evidence Creation

Conducted 'Estimating Hospital Burden of Road Traffic Injuries in Bangladesh' — a key study informing national policy decisions.

🗣️

Stakeholder Engagement

Bringing together orthopaedists, NCD physicians, victim families, and survivors for joint advocacy with lawmakers.

🏍️

Vulnerable Road Users

Addressing critical gaps in the Road Transport Act-2018 for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

📢

Public Awareness

Operating 'NHF-BOS Road Safety Advocacy Program' Facebook page for mass public and policymaker awareness.

🌍

Global Alignment

Aligned with UN Decade of Action 2021–2030 and SDG Goals 3.6 (halving deaths) & 11.2 (safe transport for all).

Victims' Voice

Survivor & Family Testimonials

Real stories from those affected by road crashes — survivors and bereaved families fighting for safer roads.

Survivor Story
Video coming soon
Survivor Story

Fatima's Road to Recovery

A motorcyclist crash survivor shares her 18-month rehabilitation journey and her advocacy for mandatory helmet laws.

Family Voice
Video coming soon
Family Voice

A Father's Call for Change

Mohammad Alam lost his 14-year-old son to a road crash. His testimony before parliament sparked new legislative discussions.

Medical Voice
Video coming soon
Medical Voice

Dr. Karim on Policy Reform

An orthopaedic surgeon at NHFB describes the hospital burden of road injuries and the urgent need for systemic policy change.

Upcoming Activities

Program Calendar

Key advocacy events, research milestones, and awareness campaigns.

Apr
2025

National Road Safety Stakeholder Summit

Summit

Multi-ministry dialogue on enacting safe speed regulations and standard helmet laws.

May
2025

Hospital Burden Study — Phase II Data Collection

Research

Expanding the RTI hospital burden survey to 10 additional tertiary hospitals across Bangladesh.

Jun
2025

Survivor Voices Campaign Launch

Awareness

Social media campaign featuring testimonials from road crash survivors and bereaved families.

Aug
2025

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Event

Annual commemoration with policy advocacy and victim family engagement.

Oct
2025

Safe System Training for NCD Practitioners

Training

Capacity building for physicians on road safety as a critical public health issue.

Advocacy Materials

Policy & Awareness Resources

Downloadable policy briefs, research reports, and campaign materials for road safety advocacy.

📋
Research Brief

Hospital Burden of RTI — Key Findings

Principal findings from the NHFB hospital RTI burden estimation study.

Coming soon
🏛️
Policy Brief

Safe Speed Regulations

Recommendations for government to enact evidence-based speed management laws.

Coming soon
⛑️
Campaign Kit

Helmet Use Campaign Materials

Print-ready advocacy materials promoting standard helmet use for motorcyclists.

Coming soon
🚦
Analysis

Road Safety Law Gap Analysis

Comparative analysis of Road Transport Act-2018 against global best practices.

Coming soon
👶
Factsheet

Child Road Safety Factsheet

Statistics and recommendations on protecting children as vulnerable road users.

Coming soon
📊
Data Report

SDG Road Safety Dashboard

Bangladesh's progress towards SDG 3.6 and 11.2 road safety targets.

Coming soon

Key Policy Recommendations

Enact evidence-based speed management laws
Mandate standard helmet use for all motorcyclists
Strengthen seatbelt enforcement for all occupants
Introduce child restraint regulations
Address drink-driving and drug-driving enforcement
Improve road infrastructure for pedestrian safety
Align Road Transport Act with Safe System standards
Establish dedicated road safety data collection systems
Follow Us on Facebook

NHF-BOS Road Safety
Advocacy Program

NHFB operates a dedicated Facebook page to create awareness among the mass public and policy makers on road safety issues in Bangladesh.

Visit Our Facebook Page
2022
Program Started
GRSP
Global Partner
IFRC
Host Organization