139 Highly Risky: 314 accident-prone upazilas identified
Staff Reporter:
The Road Safety Foundation (RSF) has identified 314 accident-prone upazilas across Bangladesh-each corresponding to its respective police station area-classifying 139 as highly accident-prone and 175 as moderately risky.
Of these, 21 upazilas have been marked as extremely high-risk, according to an RSF report analyzing data from the past five years (2020-2024).
The foundation reviewed around 37,000 road accidents, drawing from both media reports and RSF’s own database, and categorized the areas based on accident type, frequency, and severity. The findings were revealed on Saturday.
The 21 extremely high-risk areas include major urban and suburban zones such as Dhaka and Dhamrai (Dhaka district); Gazipur Sadar, Kaliakoir, and Shreepur (Gazipur); Kalihati (Tangail); Shibchar and Tekerhat (Madaripur); Bhanga (Faridpur); Ishwardi (Pabna); Sherpur (Bogura); Baraigram (Natore); Mirersarai, Patiya, and Sitakunda (Chattogram); Chakaria (Cox’s Bazar); Damurhuda (Chuadanga); Gournadi (Barishal); Madhabpur (Habiganj); and Trishal and Valuka (Mymensingh).
These upazilas fall within the 139 highly accident-prone zones identified by RSF. The Dhaka Division alone accounts for over 30 risky upazilas, including Dhaka Sadar, Dhamrai, Savar, Keraniganj, Gazipur Sadar, Kaliakoir, Tangail Sadar, and Sonargaon (Narayanganj). Other divisions-Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Rangpur, Barishal, Mymensingh, and Sylhet-also feature multiple accident-prone upazilas.
Causes Behind the Alarming Trend
The foundation cited several key factors driving the high accident rates:
Poor road design and infrastructure, coupled with deteriorating road conditions
Absence of proper safety features, such as traffic signs, lane markings, dividers, and warning boards
Uncontrolled speeding and reckless movement of mixed vehicles on the same road
Inexperienced or unlicensed drivers, particularly at critical road sections
Encroachment and unsafe roadside activities by communities living along highways
Recommendations and Way Forward
To reduce the frequency of accidents, the RSF urged the government to take comprehensive corrective measures, including:
Upgrading road design and repairing hazardous spots
Installing adequate signage, dividers, and lane markings
Deploying technology-based speed control systems
Introducing separate lanes for slow and fast-moving vehicles
Preventing underage driving and conducting community awareness programs
Ensuring strict monitoring of identified hotspots by law enforcement
The RSF emphasized that coordinated efforts between local administrations, traffic police, and road safety agencies could substantially reduce casualties and injuries.
Looking Ahead
The study highlights the urgent need for government intervention and nationwide awareness to prevent road crashes. As most fatal accidents occur within specific districts and upazilas, targeted infrastructure upgrades and stricter traffic management could potentially save hundreds of lives every year.
Experts reiterated that road safety extends beyond traffic laws-it’s a shared social responsibility. Addressing infrastructural gaps, enforcing speed limits, and raising public awareness are essential to reversing Bangladesh’s persistently high accident rates.
By identifying these 314 vulnerable locations, the RSF hopes authorities and communities will prioritize actions to make the country’s roads safer-ultimately reducing the human and economic toll of road accidents.