[Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 29, 2026] – Today, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) announced it will continue its work through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety[1]. DNCC’s road safety initiative is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ US$ 350 million global commitment to prevent traffic deaths and injuries worldwide, announced by Mike Bloomberg at CityLab 2026[2] last night, hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Aspen Institute. This will advance efforts to improve road design, and create connected cycling networks in Dhaka North city in Bangladesh.
Each year, more than one million people – including 5,490 deaths in Bangladesh[3] – lose their lives in road crashes, and another 20 to 50 million are injured, many with lifelong disabilities. Most of these deaths and injuries are not accidents, but the result of system failures including poorly designed roads, and public policies and urban design that favors vehicle speed over public health and safety.
Road crash is one of the major public health problems in Dhaka north. According to the Road Safety Situation Report 2022-23[4], 540 people were killed on Dhaka Roads between 2022 and 2023. Among deaths, 56% pedestrians, 24% motorcyclists, and 8% rickshaw occupants. Most deaths were distributed among the individuals aged 20-49 indicating untimely demise of people at their most productive years. Fatalities were higher at night than during the day. Buses and Trucks were the killer of the most crash victims.
DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan said, “More than half of those killed in road accidents in Dhaka are pedestrians. To ensure their safety, we have begun efforts to free footpaths from encroachment. With the cooperation of all concerned, we believe it is possible to create a safer and more accessible walking environment for city residents within a short time. In addition, to reduce road fatalities and make our streets safer for citizens, we are working in collaboration with Bloomberg. Our goal is to transform Dhaka into a city with safer roads for everyone.”
In Dhaka North, Bangladesh, the initiative will support implementing proven road safety policies and infrastructure improvements, training of police officers, strengthen data and surveillance system and road safety communication support. DNCC will address the need for coordinated action to ensure safety for pedestrians and motorcyclists as well.
Dhaka North and Chattogram city in Bangladesh are among locations where the initiative will scale proven policies across 13 countries and in more than 30 cities. Locations include: Buenos Aires and Córdoba (Argentina); Chattogram and Dhaka North (Bangladesh); Campinas, Salvador, São Paulo State, and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Cali and Medellín (Colombia); Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); Guayaquil and Quito (Ecuador); Oromia State (Ethiopia); Karnataka State, Maharashtra State (including Mumbai and Pune), Delhi (India); Mombasa and Nairobi (Kenya); Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); Jalisco State and Mexico City (Mexico); Kampala (Uganda); and Da Nang and Hanoi (Vietnam).
DNCC is largest city corporation in Bangladesh in terms of area (196.22 km2) and population (about 6 million[5]), and one of the most densely populated (29,181/km2) cities in the World. According to study, most deaths were among the individuals aged 20-49 indicating untimely demise of people at their most productive years. DNCC will address the need for coordinated action to ensure safety for pedestrians and motorcyclists. For more information about the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety,