At least 708 people died, and 2,426 were injured in 683 road accidents across Bangladesh in the month of April, states a report of accident monitoring cell of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.
Besides, 47 people were killed and 36 were injured in 44 railway accidents, while eight people were killed and 10 injured with one still missing in six waterway accidents, it said.
The report was done analysing accident reports published in the country’s national and regional dailies and online media outlets during the period as well as through the verification of 1,096 injured patients from 1,316 people in road accidents at the National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre. The organisation presented this report via a press release signed by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury on Wednesday.
A total of 763 people were killed, and 2,472 were injured in 733 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country.
Besides, 274 people died, and 328 others were injured in some 305 motorbike accidents across the country last month, which is 44.65 per cent of the total accidents and 38.70 per cent of the total fatalities.
Dhaka division witnessed the highest number of 155 road accidents, with 179 fatalities and 305 injuries, while Barishal witnessed the lowest number of 35 road accidents, with as many deaths.
Among those killed in road accidents in April, 10 were members of law enforcement agencies, 169 were drivers, 63 were pedestrians, 58 were transport workers, 46 students, six teachers, 119 women, 67 children, three journalists, two physicians, one lawyer, three engineers and eight activists of different political parties.
Among the vehicles involved in the accidents were 34.71 per cent motorbikes, 15.48 per cent buses, 17.61 per cent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 6.27 per cent private cars, SUVs and microbuses, 5.97 per cent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 13.15 per cent battery-run human hauliers and 6.78 per cent three-wheeler vehicles, said the report.
Of the accidents, 35.28 per cent occurred on national highways, 14.78 on regional roads and 42.45 per cent on roads. Besides, 6.58 per cent of accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 0.43 per cent in Chattogram city, and 0.43 per cent on rail tracks, it added.
The association blamed reckless driving, motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, lack of street lights, road marking or road signs, development of cracks and holes on highways during the rainy season, movement of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules, unskilled drivers and helpers, collecting tolls and poor traffic management for the accidents and deaths.
