Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Urges Political Parties to Avoid Road-Blocking Demonstrations

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali has issued a plea to political parties, including the BNP, to refrain from staging road-blocking demonstrations on working days, citing the severe inconvenience such programs cause to city commuters. The commissioner made this statement at a training workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of DMP officials in investigating road crashes. The two-day training was organized by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) and included 60 police officers from various units of the DMP. The workshop focused on internationally recognized investigative techniques tailored to the local context and various aspects of global road safety.

Key Takeaways:

• Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali urged political parties, including the BNP, to avoid staging road-blocking demonstrations on working days due to the severe inconvenience they cause to city commuters.
• The commissioner emphasized the need for police personnel to be upskilled in scientific crash investigation methods to accurately identify causes of road crashes and reduce road fatalities in the future.
• The Traffic Division oversees road duties, while crash investigations are conducted by the Crime Division, with the commissioner planning to involve traffic police in such investigations going forward.
• Commissioner Sazzat Ali stressed the importance of compliance with traffic rules to prevent road crashes, highlighting violations such as speeding, sudden lane changes, and indiscriminate road crossing as significant risk factors.
• Most road crashes in Dhaka occur between midnight and early morning when the roads are relatively empty, and the commissioner instructed police officers to strictly enforce existing laws and control speed limits to prevent such incidents.
• Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar emphasized that following traffic rules and speed limits by all road users, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, can greatly reduce the risk of road crashes.

Statistics:

• 60 police officers representing various units of the DMP participated in the two-day training workshop organized by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP).
• The workshop focused on internationally recognized investigative techniques tailored to the local context and various aspects of global road safety.
• The DMP commissioner emphasized the need for upskilling police personnel in scientific crash investigation methods to reduce road fatalities in the future.

Sources:

• Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali's speech at the training workshop
• Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) report on road safety training for Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials
• Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Sarwar's remarks at the workshop