If I were in charge...

If I were in charge of Bangladesh there are so many things I would need to do to get this place in order.  The operative word in that last sentence being order.  There is order in a diluted cast system kind of way, but that's only part of the problem.  My first order of business as the PIC (person in charge) would be to start educating the children (we are all children right?) about street safety.  Reflecting on my childhood, I distinctly recall numerous lectures from both parents and school teachers.  "Look both ways before you cross the street", was drilled into my head until it became second nature.  It would seem that, "just walk into the street and look surprised when you turn around and are almost hit by something moving", is the message most Bangladeshis are getting from somewhere.

As the PIC, I would also require all Bangladeshis to take a lining up test.  I am quite certain the older population would have more difficulty passing this test than the young ones.  In my campaign to keep the streets safe I would also make it clear that people should walk on the sidewalks, not the busy streets.  Furthermore, there should be absolutely, positively no riding of motorcycles on the sidewalks.  (Even when  traffic is at a dead standstill and a sidewalk is open.)  Oh yeah and speaking of motorcycles, as the PIC I would make it clear that helmets should be worn on a person's head, not dangling from their handlebars.

Another street safety issue that was recently brought to my attention when I was nearly struck  head on by a cyclist going the wrong way, is the law that in order to remain safe on the roads, you should go with traffic, not against it.  This rule would apply to cyclists, rickshaws, CNGs, cars and buses.  Just because you drive a Lexus and own a garment factory does not exempt you from this law.

As the PIC I may need to send out a memo that horns are meant to be used in emergency situations not to be used when passing someone or for no apparent reason.  Even with all this, the streets still wouldn't be safe.  In my school education street safety program, we would play the game red light, green light, where students go on green and stop when the teacher says, "red light".  Students would color stop signs just to reinforce the concept with a visual reminder.  They could even take their new sign home to educate their parents.

This new education street safety program wouldn't solve many of Bangladesh's other major issues; pollution, poverty, power, corruption, but it's a good start.  I am quite confident that if we can inject some sort of order into this great nation, we can then move forward, rather than being stuck in traffic or running into each other.