Play store
The 11th national rally of the social organisation Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa) was held at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital on Friday, with a renewed call for safer and more disciplined roads across the country.
The rally also honoured individuals for their outstanding contributions to promoting road safety and maintaining discipline on the roads.
Nischa Chairman and noted actor Ilias Kanchan presided over the event. Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Minister in charge of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, attended the programme as the chief guest, while State Minister for the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Habibur Rashid Habib formally inaugurated the rally.
The rally brought together Nischa leaders and activists, volunteers and road safety campaigners from different districts and upazilas across the country, along with representatives of the government and other stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Ilias Kanchan said ensuring safe roads is not merely a demand but a fundamental right of every citizen.
He called for stronger social mobilisation to establish discipline on the roads and reduce road crashes.
Speakers at the event stressed the need to prevent road accidents, properly enforce traffic laws, ensure pedestrian safety, improve drivers’ skills and raise public awareness about road safety.
They said ensuring safe roads requires coordinated efforts by the government, law enforcement agencies, transport owners and workers, and the general public.
At the programme, Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Kotwali Zone under the Lalbagh Traffic Division, A.K.M. Manzurul Alam, received the 2026 recognition plaque for his contribution to road safety.
Kamal Hossain Khan, joint organising secretary of the Nirapad Sarak Chai movement, was also awarded the Shamim Alam Dipen Memorial Award 2026 for his special contribution to organisational activities aimed at promoting road safety.
The organisers said the rally was aimed at strengthening the social movement for safer roads and encouraging greater participation from all sections of society in preventing road crashes.