Staff Reporter :
At least 614 people were killed and 1,196 injured in 597 road accidents across the country in May, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.
The report also notes 48 railway accidents resulting in 35 deaths, and seven waterway accidents causing nine deaths. Combined, at least 652 transport-related accidents occurred in May, leaving 658 people dead and 1,210 injured.
The report was released on Thursday analysing accident reports published in the country’s national dailies and online media during the period.
The association reported that 256 of the deaths occurred in 233 motorcycle-related crashes, accounting for 39.02 per cent of total accidents and 41.69 per cent of all fatalities during the month.
The Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of road accidents, with 139 incidents causing 148 deaths and 271 injuries. In comparison, the Barishal Division saw the fewest, with 30 accidents, 30 deaths, and 44 injuries.
In this regards, the association’s secretary general, Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said the report was compiled by monitoring news reports published across print and digital platforms covering road, rail, and waterway accidents.
Among those killed in road accidents, 142 were drivers, followed by 95 pedestrians, 66 students, 59 women, 54 children, and 34 transport workers.
As for the types of vehicles involved, 29.41 per cent were motorcycles; 22.53 per cent trucks, pickups, covered vans, or lorries; 12.48 per cent buses; 14.17 per cent battery-powered rickshaws or easy-bikes; 6.66 per cent CNG-powered auto-rickshaws; 9.31 per cent locally modified vehicles; and 5.39 per cent cars, jeeps, or microbuses.
Of the accidents, 49.07 per cent involved pedestrians being run over, 24.95 per cent head-on collisions, 20.10 per cent caused by vehicles losing control and falling into ditches, 0.33 per cent involved scarves caught in wheels, 0.50 per cent collisions between trains and other vehicles.
