Staff Reporter :
The country’s roads, highways, railways, and driver routes continue to be scenes of tragic accidents, claiming hundreds of lives each month.
According to the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, at least 550 people were killed and 932 injured in 550 accidents in May.
A staggering 510 people lost their lives in 508 road accidents, with 921 individuals sustaining injuries.
The number of fatalities from motorbike accidents is particularly alarming, with 175 individuals killed and 190 injured in 176 incidents.
This represents 34.64% of total accidents, 34.31% of deaths, and 20.62% of injuries reported.
On the railways, 32 people were killed and 11 injured in 37 accidents. Meanwhile, river routes saw three fatalities and 52 people reported missing in five accidents.
The Dhaka division recorded the highest number of road accidents, with 121 fatalities and 210 injuries from 115 incidents.
Conversely, Barishal division experienced the fewest accidents, with 22 deaths and 33 injuries in 26 incidents.
Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, Secretary General of the Association, pointed out significant issues within the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), citing the need for organizational reform to prevent further loss of life.
He also highlighted the pervasive corruption in the transport sector, suggesting that eliminating bribery and extortion could restore discipline.
The use of CCTV cameras to enforce traffic laws was recommended as a measure to reduce accidents.
The accident victims included 15 law enforcement officers, 131 drivers, 76 pedestrians, 121 transport workers, 54 students, 19 teachers, 81 women, 58 children, two journalists, three engineers, one freedom fighter, and five political activists.
Deaths among these groups included six police and army members, one RAB officer, one freedom fighter, two engineers, 104 drivers, 68 pedestrians, 57 women, 43 children, 41 students, 29 transport workers, nine teachers, and four political activists. The data identified 757 vehicles involved in the road accidents. These included 27.21% motorcycles, 24.70% trucks, pickups, covered vans, and lorries, 10.03% buses, 17.83% battery-run rickshaws and easy-bikes, 5.28% CNG auto-rickshaws, 9.37% Nosimon-Korimon-Mahindra-Tractors and Leguna, and 5.54% cars, jeeps, and microbuses.
The majority of road accidents occurred on feeder roads (42.12%), followed by national highways (30.70%) and regional highways (20.86%). The capital city saw 3.74% of road accidents, Chattogram city 1.96%, and rail-crossings 0.59%.