At least 475 people were killed and 605 others injured in 566 road accidents in November, according to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a commuter rights platform.

Of the deceased, 173 were killed in motorcycle accidents, which was 30.56% of the total fatalities. A total of 147 bike accidents took place last month, accounting for 25.97% of the total accidents.

According to a media statement signed by Jatri Kalyan Samity Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury on Tuesday, the highest number of 183 accidents occurred last month in the Dhaka division, claiming 115 lives and leaving 138 others injured.

The least number of road accidents was reported in the Sylhet division, with 16 killed and 26 injured from 22 accidents.

Of the total accidents, 40.81% were from run-over by vehicles, while 13.95% were from head-on collisions, 10.24% from falling into ditches, 34.62% from miscellaneous reasons, and 0.35% from train-vehicle collisions, as per the Jatri Kalyan Samity report.

The commuter rights platform says that 42.57% of the total accidents that occurred last month were on national highways, while 19.74% were on regional highways, and 21.55% on feeder roads. 

Besides, 13.04% of the month’s total accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 2.65% in Chattogram city, and 0.35% on railway crossings.

Jatri Kalyan Samity, which has long been working for commuter welfare, said in its observation that weak enforcement of traffic laws, irregularities and corruption in the traffic department, a massive increase in motorcycles, battery-run auto rickshaws and three-wheelers were the major reasons for such a high number of accidents and fatalities.

Moreover, the absence of road markings, inadequate street lights, incompetent drivers, unfit vehicles, and reckless driving were also the reasons for the accidents.