At least 18 people were killed in road accidents across the country during Eid day. Most of them are motorcyclists. On Thursday (April 11), the shadow of mourning has descended on the families of those who where deceased in these accidents. Among the deceased, four died in Panchagarh, three in Khagrachhari, two in Narsingdi, one in Dhaka, one in Brahmanbaria, one in Jashore, three in Netrokona, one in Chuadangaa and two in Narail.

According to a report from the Road Safety Foundation, over 1,128 children were in road accidents across the country in 2023. More than 17% of the total casualties were children. The organization revealed the information at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office on Saturday (Jan 27).   Besides, at least 6,524 people were killed and 11,407 injured in 6,911 road crashes last year. Last year, the number of accidents in the country increased compared to the previous year, but the number of deaths decreased. The number of child deaths due to accidents has also decreased slightly compared to the previous year. Of the deceased, 974 were women which is around 15% of the total casualties.

As many as 5,024 people have been killed in 5,495 road accidents across the country in 2023, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) says. BRTA's chairman Nur Mohammad Majumder came up with the information at a press briefing held at its office in Banani on Tuesday (Jan 16).   He said, according to the BRTA report, among the victims, 88 people were killed in Dhaka division, 79 were killed in Chattogram division, 63 were killed in Rajshahi division, 49 were killed in Khulna division, 28 were killed in Barishal divisions, 24 were killed in Sylhet division, 54 were killed in Rangpur division, and 48 were killed in Mymensingh division in December.   Motorcycle accidents accounted for the highest number of fatalities, accounting for 25.39%.   The country saw the highest number of fatalities in July, with 533 killed and 934 injured in 566 road accidents.   In 2023, a total of 7,837 vehicles, including 1,083 buses/minibuses, 1,389 trucks/covered vans, and 1,747 motorcycles, were involved in the accidents.  

In 2020 total 4,891 road accidents took place in the country sporadically. In these accidents total 6,686 people were killed and 8,600 people were injured. Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity secretary general Mozammel Haque Chowdhury upheld the report at a press conference in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Saturday. The report said, in this period 318 people were killed in 323 accidents on railway and 79 people were also injured. 313 people were killed, 342 people were injured and 371 people were missing in 183 accidents on naval routes. Total 7,317 people were killed and 9,021 people were injured in total 5,397 accidents on road, rail track and naval routes. The report was prepared after monitoring the news of accidents published on national, regional and online newspapers. AH

Twenty people were killed and ten others injured in road accidents in Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Feni, Mymensingh districts and Savar upazila in Dhaka on Thursday night and Friday. In Habiganj, nine people were killed and four others injured when a microbus carrying a bridegroom and his relatives crashed into a roadside tree on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Kandigaon in Nabiganj upazila in the morning. The Sylhet-bound microbus from Narayanganj hit a roadside tree after its driver lost control over the steering around 6:30 am, leaving eight people dead on the spot and five others injured, said Ershadul Haq Bhuiya, officer-in-charge of Sherpur Highway Police. Seven of the deceased were identified as Abbas Uddin, 60, Imon, 26, Rabbi, Mohsin, Razib, Asma and Sumona. Sumona succumbed to her injuries when she was taken to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Traffic movement on the busy road remained suspended for sometime following the accident. In Brahmanbaria, six people were killed and four others injured as a microbus caught fire after collision with a bus on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Rampur Bhati in Bijoynagar upazila early Friday. Four of the deceased were identified as Sohan, 20, Sagar, 22, Rifat, 16 and Emon, 14. Mainul Islam, officer-in-charge of Biswaroad Highway Police Station, said the Sylhet-bound microbus from Narayanganj caught fire after it collided with a Dhaka-bound bus of ‘Limon Paribahan’ around 3:30 am, leaving six microbus passengers dead on the spot and four others injured. The injured were taken to Madhabpur Upazila Health Complex. In Savar, a police constable was killed when a truck ran over him on Dhaka-Aricha highway at Ulail in Savar early Friday. The deceased was identified as Akash Ahmed, 22, son of Abdul Malek of Ashulia. He was posted at Narayanganj District Police Lines. The accident occurred around 2 am when a goods-laden truck hit a motorbike carrying Akash while he was going to his workplace in Narayanganj, leaving him dead on the spot, said officer-in-charge of Savar Highway Police Station Abdullah Hel Baki. A case was filed with Savar Model police Station. Police seized the ruck but could not arrest its driver as he managed to flee. In Feni, two motorcyclists were killed when a motorbike fell into a ditch beside an under- construction bridge on Sonagazi-Feni regional highway at Satbaria in Sonagazi upazila on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as Azizul Haque Shahed, 32 and Mohamamd Babul Mia, 28 of Jorarganj area in Chattogram district. Moin Uddin, officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Police Station, said the motorbike carrying two people fell into the ditch around 11:30 pm, leaving them injured. Later, they were taken to a local hospital where the doctors declared Shahed dead. Babul died on the way to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. The accident took place as there was no warning sign at the construction site, said police. In Mymensingh, two people were killed and two others injured when a mini-truck crashed into another truck in Meherabari area of Bhaluka on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. The deceased were identified as Razon Robidas, 45, driver of the mini-truck and son of Manik Robidas and his assistant Azim Uddin, 25, son of Abdus Salam. Al Mahmud Adnan, in-charge of Bhoradona highway police outpost, said the mini-truck crashed into a stationary truck on the road, killing two people on the spot. The injured were sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, he said. Source: UNB AH

Nearly four thousand five hundred people have lost their lives in road accidents throughout the country in the year 2019. Unskilled drivers, defective automobiles, weak traffic management, faulty condition of roads, not obeying the laws are the main reasons for these accidents. Nirapad Sarak Chai (NISCHA) revealed the information while presenting statistics of road accidents in the year 2019. In the program NISCHA chairman Ilias Kanchan said, the number of road accidents has terribly increased in 2019 comparing to last two years. The number of road accidents in 2019 is 4702. In these accidents 4356 people were killed. Besides, 198 people were killed in rail accidents. Of these, accidents of Brahmanbaria and Sirajganj are mentionable. NISCHA has been presenting the statistical report on road accidents since 2012. The aim of the report is to take necessary steps after analyzing the statistics. The statistics were gathered according to the information taken from television and newspaper reports and from its branch organizations. AH    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon all including the drivers and pedestrians to be responsible in using the roads to avoid accidents while opening a number of development projects. “Everyone should be sensible to use the roads to avoid accidents,” she said. The premier opened 1.2-km Bhulta Flyover on Dhaka-Sylhet highway, Patia Bypass Road, Satkhira Town Bypass Road, Aldi Bazar Bridge, Banar Bridge on Mymensingh-Gafargaon-Tok district highway and replacement of 13 bridges with permanent construction through a video conferencing at her official residence Ganobhaban in the capital on Wednesday. The Prime Minister said “It will not be wise to hold only drivers responsible for road accidents. Everyone including the drivers and road users should be conscious while driving vehicles and crossing the streets.” Referring to the law regarding road safety enacted by her government, she said that everyone should follow the traffic rules and regulations. The premier stressed the need for introducing education on traffic rules and regulations at school levels and said, “Students should know which sides of the roads will have to be taken to move.” Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader spoke on the occasion while PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman moderated the function. Road Transport and Highway Division Secretary Nazrul Islam delivered a brief presentation on the development projects on the occasion. The Prime Minister exchanged views with local lawmakers, administrative officers and distinguished personalities of Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Satkhira, Chattogram and Mymensing districts through the video conferencing at the function. Sheikh Hasina also urged the drivers not to get engaged in unhealthy competition while driving vehicles to avoid road accidents as many families can fall in trouble due to road crash which is not expected. The premier stressed the need for proper maintenance of various infrastructures of the Road Transport and Highways Division, including bridges. “We are developing the communication system in such a way that people can go easily from one place to another,” she said. “Dynamism has been infused in development as the Awami League government is in power for the third consecutive term since 2009,” she said. Criticizing BNP for doing nothing for the people’s welfare rather creating an elite group, the premier said that the Awami League has been doing everything for their betterment. “The government has taken massive development programs for the communication system as it is vital for socio-economic emancipation of the people,” she added. The projects are: the newly constructed Bhulta four-lane flyover on Dhaka -Sylhet highway, 283-metre long PC Guarder Bridge on the Banar river at the 72nd kilometer on Mymensingh-Gafargaon-Tok road; Patia bypass road on Dhaka-Chattogram-Coxsbazar National Highway and Shatkhira Town bypass road including Bhomra Landport connecting road as well as replacement of 13 risky bridges by permanent concrete structures. Bhulta Flyover has a total length of 1.85 kilometers, including 1.2 kilometers on Dhaka-Sylhet highway and 611 meters on Dhaka-Bypass Highway. Road Transport and Highways Division implemented the project at a cost of Taka 338.82 crore. Besides, Patia bypass road was constructed at a cost of Taka 87.70 core, and 283-metre Mymensingh-Gafargaon-Tok PC Garder Bridge was built at a cost of Taka 38.78 crore, while 13 concrete bridges were constructed under Mushiganj district at a cost of Taka 88.62 crore. AH

In 95 road accidents throughout the country during Eid journey in 11 days total 142 people were killed and 324 people were injured. The scenario came through different media reports from May 30 to June 9. The information was delivered by water way, road and rail way protection national committee on Monday. The organization said, the report was prepared based on the news published in different online version of national and regional newspapers, online news portals, news agencies and television channels. The organization claimed that the information revealed that the road journey is more dangerous than the estimation. The report said, the transport management on road and water way in this year was comparatively good than the other years. Nearly all the highways were out of massive traffic congestion. There were enough launches in Dhaka to take home bound people to the coastal area. But the report said that people did not get desired service from rail way for schedule disaster. Besides, the concerned authority failed to stop charging extra fare for bus and launch journey. They said, nine people were killed and eight were injured in seven road accidents on May 30 and on May 31 six people were killed and seven injured in six accidents. On June 1, ten people were killed and 31 injured in total 11 accidents. 27 people were killed and 38 injured in 15 accidents on June 2. At least 13 people were killed and 14 injured in seven accidents on June 3. The day before the Eid day on June 4, 16 and 62 people were killed and injured respectively in six accidents. On the Eid day on June 5, 26 people were killed and 78 injured in 16 road accidents. On the following day on June 6 in eight accidents 11 and 33 people were killed and injured respectively. On June 7, 11 people were killed and 18 were injured in six accidents. Eight people were killed and 11 injured in seven road accidents on June 8. On June 9, in six accidents five people were killed and 24 injured. General Secretary of the organization Ashish Kumar Dey said that they have identified six factors behind the accidents. These are- reckless driving to cover time spent in ferry ghats and toll stations, carelessness of the drivers, their fatigue, negligence of police in discharging their duty, violations of the traffic rules and plying of large number of motorcycles and three-wheelers on the highways.     AH      

To prevent fire accident and to avert loss caused after the accident Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has issued a set of directives. Her directives came in while holding the regular cabinet meeting at the secretariat on Monday. Of the directives there are- Following the proper process while issuing the Fire Service and Civil Defense safety clearance certificate during construction of high rise buildings. Keeping system for renewal clearance certificate. During fire most of the people die of suffocation due to smoke. So modern system has to be taken to control smoke. Emphasizing on preserving the water reservoirs, lakes and canals to increase supply of water in the capital. Purchasing fire dousing and human rescue equipments. Fire Service has only three ladders/long stairs to reach up to 22nd floor during fire and other accidents. The number has to be increased. Homes, offices and commercial buildings have to be constructed keeping doors and windows in each side and have to ensure hundred percent fire exit. Have to fix other types of doors instead of electric doors so that those can be opened when there is no electric supply or during accidental period. There should be a system to fix net around the building so that anybody cannot fall to death. Verandas have to be kept in schools and hospitals so that people can take shelter during the time of any accident. To save space interior designers make their designs by covering all the inner spaces. This type of design will not be allowed. There should be enough space so that people can move freely. Awareness should be increased so that people do not use lift in the time of accident. There should be more than one door for people’s entrance and exit. The one door entrance system should be prohibited. The meeting was held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. After the meeting Cabinet Secretary Md. Shafiul Alam delivered the information at a press conference. AH            

259 people were killed and 960 people were injured in 237 road accidents in this year’s Eid-ul-Azha journey. The accidents took place over 13 days from August 16 to 28 on different roads and highways of the country. The information came through a report of Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association. Secretary General of the association Md. Mozammel Haque Chowdhury presented the report of the association’s monitoring cell over road accidents at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium on Friday. The association also published report on road accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr. During that period 277 road accidents took place on different roads and highways. 339 people were killed and 1,265 people were injured in those accidents. AH