402 killed as road accidents rise 3.95% during Eid: Jatri Kalyan Samity

At least 438 people were killed and 1,340 injured in 442 accidents that occurred across the country during the 15-day Eid-ul-Azha journey, according to Jatri Kalyan Samity.

The association’s Secretary General, Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, presented the data at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Hall on Sunday.

Based on newspaper reports, Jatri Kalyan Samity regularly publishes data on accidents, although a large number of incidents remain unreported.

Road accidents accounted for the majority of casualties, with the number of accidents rising by 3.95% to 394 compared with the previous Eid-ul-Azha. The number of fatalities also increased by 3.07% to 402, while the number of injuries rose by 9.47% to 1,294.

Additionally, 23 people were killed and 30 injured in 31 railway accidents, while 13 people were killed and 16 injured in 17 waterway accidents.

Motorcycles again topped the accident list, accounting for 153 accidents – 38.83% of all road accidents – resulting in 159 deaths and 180 injuries.

Jatri Kalyan Samity observed that rain had created potholes on large sections of highways, contributing to an increase in motorcycle accidents due to reckless speeding. Dilapidated roads, existing infrastructural defects and drivers' tendency to violate traffic laws have also contributed to the rising trend of road accidents. Additionally, due to a shortage of drivers, nearly 80 per cent of vehicles were operated continuously by a single driver, increasing the risk of accidents.

Some bus owners, driven by the pursuit of excess profit, put expired fitness certificate holders and defective vehicles on the roads without carrying out necessary repairs. This Eid saw more passenger buses lose control and plunge into ditches or roadside areas.

Among the dead and injured were 80 drivers, 89 transport workers, 59 pedestrians, 64 women, 45 children, 66 students, five law enforcers, three teachers, one doctor, three journalists, one engineer and four political activists.

Of the accidents, 46.44% were head-on collisions, 29.18% involved vehicles hitting pedestrians, 17.25% involved vehicles losing control and falling into ditches, 1.52% were train-vehicle collisions and 5.58% resulted from other causes.

Of the total accidents, 50% occurred on national highways, 30.71% on regional roads and in metropolitan areas, 0.25% in Chattogram metropolis, 1.52% at railway crossings and 14.46% on feeder roads.