City Desk ;
A total of 528 people were killed and 1,310 injured in 532 accidents on roads, railways, and waterways across the country in October, according to a report by Jatri Kalyan Samity.
The non-government organisation compiled the report based on news published in national, local dailies and online news portals, says a press release.
Among them, 469 people died and 1,280 were injured in 469 road accidents between October 1 and 30.
Besides, 47 people were killed and 30 others injured in 52 railway accidents while 12 people died and one went missing in 11 waterway accidents during the same period.
The report also noted that motorbike accidents accounted for a significant share, claiming 176 lives and injuring 137 others across the country last month – representing 36.24 percent of total accidents and 37.52 percent of total fatalities.
Dhaka division recorded the highest number of road accidents with 126 incidents, resulting in 130 deaths and 343 injuries.
Mymensingh reported the lowest, with 20 accidents causing 27 fatalities.
Among those killed in road accidents, four were law enforcement personnel, one lawyer, three engineers, 133 drivers, 99 pedestrians, 58 women, 35 children, 14 transport workers, 13 teachers, and 14 political activists.
In terms of vehicles involved, 25.90 percent were motorcycles, 21.24 percent trucks, pick-up vans, covered vans, and lorries, 16.06 percent jeeps and microbuses, 4.27 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 12.80 percent battery-run human haulers, and 8.41 percent three-wheelers.
Regarding accident locations, 42.43 percent occurred on national highways, 23.66 percent on regional roads, and 27.29 percent on other roads. Additionally, 4.69 percent occurred in Dhaka city, 1.27 percent in Chattogram city, and 0.63 percent on rail tracks.
The association attributed the high number of accidents and fatalities to poor road conditions, reckless driving, the prevalence of motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, inadequate street lighting, missing road signs or markings, movement of unfit vehicles, traffic rule violations, unskilled drivers and helpers, and weak traffic management.
