They also stressed on behavioural change of the street users, pedestrians as well as vehicle drivers, to curb the rate of road accidents in the country.

The seminar was jointly organised by Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB) and Accident Research Centre (ARC) at ARC auditorium on Bangladesh University of Science and Technology (Buet) campus in the city on the occasion of First Global Road Safety Week.

Presenting the keynote paper, Executive Director of CIPRB Dr AKM Fazlur Rahman said road accidents have multiplier effects on the entire society as well as on the economy.

Road accidents take away around 12000 lives each year making around 20000 children orphan, he added.

He also stressed the need of adopting a multi-sectoral approach to minimise the magnitude of road accidents and to rehabilitate the accident victims.

Speaking at the programme, Director of National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Research Dr Sirajul Islam said that fixing minimum educational qualifications for the drivers would greatly contribute to reducing the rate of road accidents in the country.

Abdur Rauf, one of the participants at the programme, said government formulated three national action plans since 1997 to ensure road safety, yet not a single one was implemented so far.

Speaking as the chief guest at the programme, Vice Chancellor of Buet Dr Shafiullah said "Accidents do not take place automatically, rather we create situations that breed accidents. That is why we must eliminate the causes of road accidents".

Director of ARC Dr Md Mazharul Hoque chaired the programme while Director (operations) of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority Engr A Sattar and Dr Mostafa Zamal of World Health Organisation also spoke.