They get no safety for road crossing

People with disabilities, who make up 10 percent of the country's population, children, women and the elderly do not have facilities for crossing roads safely, said speakers at a sit-in yesterday.

Footbridges and underpasses are not suitable for these groups of people, they said and demanded more zebra crossings in the city.

A total of 18 organisations, including Protibondhi Nagorik Sanghathan Parishad, Poribesh Bachao Andolan and B-Scan, organised the event in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital.     

Abu Naser Khan, chairman of Poba, citing Dhaka Urban Transport Network Development Study-2010, said although pedestrians make up 37 percent of Dhaka city's population, they are not included in urban planning.

Salam Mahbub, general secretary of B-Scan, said people with disabilities cannot use footbridges and they are facing problems in crossing roads and commuting.

The organisers' demands included wider footpaths, ramps for footpaths for people using wheelchairs, and sound based traffic lights for hearing impaired people.

Syed Mahbub Alam, director of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, said 71 percent of road accident victims are pedestrians.