Over 600 people lost their lives in road accidents across Khulna division over the past year, according to a recent report by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) regional office in Khulna.
Between October 2024 and September 2025, a total of 616 road crashes were recorded in 10 districts of the division, leaving 614 people dead and damaging 892 vehicles. Motorcycles were found to be involved in the highest number of incidents.
Among the districts, Jashore saw the most fatalities- 107 people were killed and 104 injured in 109 separate accidents. In Khulna district, 34 accidents caused 43 deaths and 38 injuries, while Bagerhat recorded 48 accidents resulting in 45 deaths and 58 injuries.
Satkhira reported 39 accidents claimed 50 lives and injured 43 others. Narail experienced 25 accidents with 30 deaths and 42 injuries, while Magura saw 44 accidents leading to 48 deaths and 42 injuries. Jhenaidah documented 84 crashes killed 83 people and injured 44.
Kushtia logged 103 accidents resulting in 100 deaths and 104 injuries. Chuadanga had 83 accidents that killed 60 and injured 74, while Meherpur reported 47 crashes with 47 deaths and 65 injuries.
Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, deputy director of BRTA Khulna, blamed the surge in road crashes on weak enforcement of traffic laws, poor coordination among authorities, and inadequate driver training.
He also pointed out competition among vehicles, the movement of small vehicles such as nosimon, autorickshaws, and rickshaws on highways, and pedestrians’ carelessness were major reasons behind the accidents.
According to him, 3-wheelers, especially autorickshaws, nosimon, karimon, and battery-run rickshaws, have become significant contributors to the problem.
Babul Hawlader, member secretary of Khulna Civil Society, said reckless driving, poor traffic management, and lax enforcement are fuelling daily road fatalities. He added strategic measures and stronger monitoring by authorities could significantly reduce deaths.
Hawlader further noted many highway collisions occur when drivers attempt to overtake, leading to deadly head-on crashes.
Experts and officials have stressed the urgent need for stricter traffic regulations, better road infrastructure, and greater public awareness to reduce the alarming number of road accidents in the Khulna division.
