Staff Reeporter, Dhaka : Road safety took centre stage as Pathao successfully concluded its month-long quot;Safe থাকি, Safe রাখি quot; campaign, culminating in a special exhibition that brought together cartoons from artists and creative minds across Bangladesh.

As part of the campaign, Pathao organised the quot;Safe থাকি, Safe রাখি quot; Cartoon Competition, inviting participants to highlight important road safety habits through cartoons. Running from April 20 to May 31, the competition encouraged submissions around everyday road safety practices such as helmet use, following traffic signals, and ensuring vehicle fitness.

To spread this message to a wider audience, Pathao, Bangladesh leading super app, organised five major awareness events across Dhaka throughout the campaign. These included interactive sessions at BRAC University, the University of Asia Pacific (UAP), and United International University (UIU), a school-based awareness program to engage younger audiences, and a live drawing event for the general public in Gulshan 2 in collaboration with Cartoon People.

The initiative received an overwhelming response, with more than 450 cartoon submissions from across the country. A selection of the best entries is now being showcased at a special exhibition at Drik Gallery, which officially opened on June 26 through an inauguration ceremony attended by distinguished guests.
Visitors at the event engaged with the works and appreciated the creativity and road safety messages reflected in the submissions.

Speaking about the initiative, Pathao CEO and Managing Director, Fahim Ahmed, said, “Since 2015, we have been a part of the journey of millions of people. Our daily workplace is not confined to a specific office or within four walls; our workplace is the open highway, the streets across the entire country. Therefore, the responsibility of keeping everyone safe on the road does not belong to any single individual or a lone organization. It is a collective and shared responsibility for all of us.

In the Safe Thaki, Safe Rakhi campaign, we have broken away from conventional approaches and chosen cartooning, an immensely powerful and creative medium, to engage everyone in this journey of awareness.
We believe that the talent and intellect of cartoonists can easily convey a crucial social message like road safety to the masses. Let us keep ourselves safe and keep others safe; from a place of education, awareness, and mutual accountability, let us make these roads safe for everyone.”

Special guest Ahsan Habib also shared his thoughts, saying, “The journey of cartoonists is a long one. For those of us who draw cartoons, our work is not just about sketching a small picture in a single panel and leaving it at that; behind it lies a long journey of profound thought.

In this event for the Safe Thaki, Safe Rakhi campaign, the way our professional and amateur cartoonists have brought out this social message through a single panel medium is truly commendable. I am deeply impressed by the sense of humor and the social message behind every cartoon. I hope our cartoonists will continue to make even greater contributions to social awareness through the strokes of their brushes.

Thank you to Pathao for taking this awareness initiative.”
The campaign was designed to encourage safer road behaviour and raise awareness about everyday practices that can help prevent road accidents. Through cartoons and creative storytelling, it aimed to inspire people to reflect on their habits and help make roads safer for everyone.

The submitted cartoons were judged by renowned Bangladeshi cartoonist Ahsan Habib, along with popular young artists Morshed Mishu and Rashad Imam Tanmoy.
Following the judges' evaluation, a total prize pool of BDT 105,000 is being awarded to six winners. Raeid Hosen secured first place and will receive BDT 50,000. Natasha Jahan won second place and will receive BDT 25,000, while Faridur Rahaman Razib secured third place and will receive BDT 15,000. The fourth, fifth, and sixth prizes of BDT 5,000 each will be awarded to Zurise Al Mahi, Showkat Rasadin Showkhin, and Mahatab Rashid, respectively.

The exhibition continues at Drik Gallery on June 27 from 3 PM to 8 PM, offering visitors much more than just a showcase of cartoons. Alongside the exhibition, visitors can take part in a collaborative wall painting activity, attend a discussion session on road safety, and enjoy a theatre performance. Other attractions include live cartoon and caricature sketches, fun games, and photo booths. Everyone is invited to experience this inspiring youth-led initiative promoting road safety.

Founded in 2015, Pathao is building a digital infrastructure that creates opportunities, empowers people, and enriches lives. Pathao is the largest digital services platform in Bangladesh and the market leader in ride-sharing, food delivery, and e-commerce logistics. With more than 15 million users, 400,000 Pathao Hero and delivery agents, 200,000 merchants, and 15,000 restaurants, Pathao is Here with You. The platform has created over 600,000 job opportunities in Bangladesh, contributing significantly to the country’s digital economy.