বাংলাBorura (Cumilla) Representative: During the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, 351 people were killed and 1,046 others were injured in 346 road accidents across the country’s highways. During the same period, 35 people were killed and 223 were injured in 23 railway accidents. Additionally, 8 deaths, 19 injuries, and 3 missing persons were reported in 8 waterway accidents. In total, 394 people died and 1,288 were injured in 377 accidents across road, rail, and waterways. This information was revealed in a report by the Road Accident Monitoring Cell of the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity based on media analysis. At the same time, 2,178 people were admitted to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) due to road accidents. Analysts noted that the casualty rate in Bangladesh’s transport accidents over the last 15 days is significantly higher than that of recent international conflicts like the Iran-Israel war during the same period.
The Secretary General of the organization, Md. Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, presented this data at a press conference organized by Jatri Kalyan Samity at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday (March 30) morning.
Compared to the 2025 Eid-ul-Fitr, road accidents increased by 8.95%, fatalities by 8.26%, and injuries by 21.05%. Motorcycles remained the deadliest vehicle, accounting for 135 deaths in 125 accidents, which is 38.46% of the total fatalities. The victims included 71 drivers, 55 children, 54 pedestrians, 51 women, 42 students, and several professionals such as teachers, journalists, and engineers.
Causes of Accidents:
- Unrestricted movement of motorcycles, battery-run rickshaws, and auto-rickshaws on roads and highways.
- Absence of road signs, markings, and streetlights on national highways; sudden entry of buses into railway crossings.
- Lack of road dividers and visibility obstructions caused by trees at blind curves.
- Construction defects in highways, mechanical faults in vehicles, and violation of traffic laws.
- Driving on the wrong side, extortion on streets, and transporting passengers in goods vehicles.
- Unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles, and carrying excess passengers.
- Reckless driving and drivers working extra hours without rest.
- Risky travel on bus roofs, trucks, and train roofs due to fare anarchy and extra charges.
Recommendations for Prevention:
- Increase the use of technology and introduce smart fare collection systems.
- Stop the import and registration of motorcycles and battery-run rickshaws.
- Arrange proper lighting for night movement on national and regional highways.
- Create skilled drivers and provide digital vehicle fitness certificates.
- Stop issuing licenses without 60 hours of inclusive driving training from BRTA-approved schools.
- Establish good governance in the transport sector and end owners’ association monopolies.
- Provide service lanes on important national highways.
- Stop extortion on roads and ensure fixed salaries and working hours for drivers.
- Maintain footpaths and install road signs/markings on highways.
- Develop modern bus networks and increase BRTA’s capacity.
- Ensure quality road construction and regular road safety audits.
- Launch a Road Accident Research Unit under the Ministry of Road Transport.
- Implement short, medium, and long-term plans for safe Eid travel and reduce population pressure on Dhaka.
Also present at the conference were Jatri Kalyan Samity Treasurer Mahmudul Hasan, members Alamgir Kabir, Monjur Hossain Isa, Driver Welfare Foundation President Badal Ahmed, Monjur Hossain, and Azad Hossain Tipu, among others.
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