Staff Reporter :
At least 249 people were killed and 385 others injured in 207 road crashes in 12 days till Monday during the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation as people rushed to travel home and come back to Dhaka, according to a report jointly prepared by Green Club of Bangladesh (GCB) and National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways.
The report was prepared based on 15 national and regional daily newspapers, and eight online news portals and news agencies.
Among the deceased, 35 were women and 29 children, while 23 were pedestrians and 27 transport workers, including drivers.
Both accidents and deaths increased during this Eid holidays from the Eid-ul Azha last year, the report says.
Some 187 accidents took place, where 229 people were killed and 318 others injured in the last Eid-ul-Azha.
The report also says 329 small vehicles were responsible for the road accidents. Of the total deceased, 107 people lost lives in 98 motor-bike accidents.
About 33.5% of the accidents took place on highways, 36% on internal road networks, 18.5% on rural and 12% on urban roads.
According to the report, a greater number of cars and small vehicles operated on the roads due to restrictions on inter-district public transport. As a result, the number of accidents and fatalities involving small vehicles, including private cars, increased.
The report’s findings highlight a critical need for improved road safety measures, especially during major holiday periods, to prevent such widespread tragedies.
