Motorcycle accidents now account for about 50 per cent of all road accidents each month, as the rapid rise in motorcycle registrations, now 74 per cent of all registered vehicles, has been accompanied by a sharp increase in fatalities and injuries, according to data from passenger welfare organisations and road safety bodies.
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity reported 1,114 motorcycle accidents in the first six months of 2026, resulting in 1,173 deaths and 941 injuries. Road Safety Foundation recorded 1,342 motorcycle accidents and 1,038 deaths during the same period.
Jatri Kalyan Samity Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said motorcycle accidents now account for about 50 per cent of all road accidents each month.
Students are among the worst affected. According to the Road Safety Foundation, 7,364 students died in road accidents between 2019 and June 2026, with most aged 13-25 years and killed as motorcycle riders or passengers.
Motorcycles now dominate Bangladesh’s vehicle landscape, accounting for nearly 74 per cent of all registered vehicles, while public transport registration, including buses, minibuses and taxicabs, has slowed significantly over the past decade and a half, according to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) data.
As of May 2026, the country has 6,724,647 registered vehicles. Of the 5,297,279 new vehicles added since 2011, nearly 80 per cent are motorcycles. Total registered motorcycles now stand at 4,980,747.
By contrast, bus and minibus registration has remained sluggish. Total registered buses stand at 58,589 and minibuses at 28,696. Taxicab registration has nearly stalled, with only 989 new taxicabs added in over 15 years. No new taxicabs were registered in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The highest annual vehicle registration was recorded in 2022 with 578,151 units, of which 506,912 were motorcycles. In 2025, 289,830 motorcycles were registered.
Licensing, infrastructure gaps worsen crisis
Mohammad Mahbub Alam Talukdar of BUET’s Accident Research Institute (ARI) expressed deep concern over the rising motorcycle registrations and accidents.
He said the current licensing process was not standard, with many obtaining fake licences through illegal means. He called for government-initiated practical training for motorcycle riders.
Talukdar also demanded a separate and specific law for motorcycles, arguing that not everyone with financial means should be allowed to purchase one.
“Purchasing a motorcycle should require government permission, where the buyer’s actual need and access to public transport must be verified,” he said.
Talukdar stressed the need for 100 per cent helmet use, suggesting government or institutional support to supply helmets.
He noted that AI cameras on highways can track accidents, but cannot verify whether a rider has a valid licence or is fit to drive. He urged a balanced approach across all aspects of traffic management.
He also recommended modern scientific research methods, including panel studies and the Delphi technique, to reform the road safety system.
