Desher Kaj
Zebra crossing and sign, Dhaka
A painted crossing and sign in front of a school or hospital, and a week of teaching drivers to stop.
Area
Dhaka
People
10 people
Time
About 16 hours
Difficulty
Medium
About this task
On Dhaka’s busy roads, many schools have no safe crossing in front. With the municipality’s or union council’s permission, a painted zebra crossing in front of a school or hospital, a “School ahead, slow down” sign on both sides, and a week of volunteers at school times teaching children to cross and drivers to stop.
Why it matters
A large share of those killed on Bangladesh’s roads are pedestrians, and many of them are children. A marked crossing and a sign in front of a school warn the driver in time.
What changes after
The crossing is visible, the sign stands, and the school committee takes on keeping a crossing guard at school times.
Who can join
Over 18; best with someone who has painted roads. Older pupils can join the practice week.
Step by step
- 1Done
Permission from the municipality or union120 min
A written application to the municipality or union council; keep the copy of approval.
- 2Done
Paint it240 min
Thermoplastic or road paint, at the quietest hour, with the lane closed.
- 3Done
Put up the sign120 min
One on each side, 50 to 100 metres before the school.
- 4Done
A week of volunteers600 min
Volunteers at the crossing at school opening and closing for a week.
Checklist to get ready
- Road paint · ১০ লিটার
- Sign · ২টি
When it counts as done
- The crossing is visible and the sign stands
Proof required: Before photo, After photo, Receipt
⚠ Safety
Reflective vests while working on the road, and one person always watching the traffic. Paint only with the road closed or at the quietest hour.
What it costs
| White road-marking paint | 10 litres | ৳350–600 |
| Thinner | 2 litres | ৳200–350 |
| Rollers and wide brushes | 4 | ৳150–350 |
| Masking tape | 6 rolls | ৳80–150 |
| Reflective sign with pole | 2 | ৳2,500–5,000 |
| Reflective vests | 6 | ৳150–300 |
| Cement and sand (to set the poles) | 1 lot | ৳600–1,200 |
| Total (about) | ৳11,500–22,000 | |
Getting ready, step by step
3–4 weeks before
Agree the spot with the school or hospital: where children actually cross.
Apply in writing to the authority; keep the received copy.
Order the signs (they take 1–2 weeks).
7 days before
Make sure the written permission is in hand; if not, move the date.
Tell the traffic police the date and time.
Buy paint, tape, rollers, vests.
The day before
Check the weather; postpone if rain.
Mark out the stripes in chalk (by day, with a lookout).
On the day
At dawn: close the lane, sweep, tape, paint.
Guard the paint until dry.
Put up the signs.
The week after
Two volunteers in vests at the crossing at school start and finish.
Ask the school committee to take on a standing crossing guard.
Who does what
- Lead (1): Permission, police and school; carries the permission letter. — ____________
- Painting team (4): Sweep, tape, paint; best with one experienced painter. — ____________
- Traffic watch (2): Flags and vests at both ends to slow traffic; nobody alone mid-road. — ____________
- Sign team (2): Holes, poles, cement; 50–100 metres before the school on each side. — ____________
- Photos and receipts (1): Before and after photos, receipts, the permission letter. — ____________
The day, hour by hour
- 05:45Gather, put on vests, post watchers at both ends.
- 06:00Close one lane and sweep the dust off.
- 06:20Tape along the chalk lines.
- 06:40Paint the first lane; watch continues.
- 07:30Second lane; rope or bricks round the first.
- 08:30Dig and set the sign poles in cement.
- 10:00When dry, lift the tape; second coat if needed.
- 11:00After photos, clean up, reopen the road.
What can go wrong, and what to do
- Permission has not come in time → Do not paint. Move the date and follow up at the office.
- Fast vehicles will not slow → Stop, everyone onto the pavement; get police help.
- Rain before the paint dries → Keep the lane closed and give a second coat on a dry day.
- Someone is hurt → Move them off the road and give first aid; if serious, 999.
Useful numbers
- 999National emergency: police, fire, ambulance (free)
- 333Government information, services and complaints
Questions people ask
- Can we paint without permission?
- No. Road markings are the authority’s; attach the written permission to the proof.
- Can I join if I cannot stay the whole time?
- Yes. Say in your request which step or which hours you can do. The lead will give that step to you.