Motorcycle accidents emerged as the single deadliest category of road crashes in Bangladesh during September, claiming 139 lives in 154 incidents.
According to a report released by the Road Safety Foundation on Sunday, motorcycle fatalities accounted for 32.86 per cent of total road deaths, posting a crash rate of 34.84 per cent.
Overall, 423 people were killed and 674 injured in 442 road accidents across the country during the month, averaging 14 deaths daily.
The Foundation’s analysis revealed that 162 motorcycles were involved in crashes during September, representing 23.44 per cent of all vehicles involved.
Among the 423 road fatalities, motorcycle drivers and riders constituted the highest proportion of victims at 32.86 per cent (139 dead).
Reckless motorcycle riding by youths was explicitly identified as one of the primary underlying factors contributing to the national road safety crisis.
Overall casualties across roads, waterways, and railways
The report noted that those killed in road crashes included 73 women and 61 children. Pedestrians suffered heavily, with 106 killed, representing 25.05 per cent of all road deaths, while 53 vehicle drivers and assistants (12.52 per cent) also lost their lives.
Beyond road transport, 11 waterway accidents resulted in 16 deaths, seven injuries, and four missing people.
In addition, 23 railway track accidents left 19 people dead and six injured. The findings were compiled by monitoring nine national daily newspapers, 17 national and regional online news portals, various electronic media channels, and the organisation’s own records.
Vehicle-wise breakdown of fatalities
A detailed breakdown of fatalities by transport mode showed that 88 three-wheeler passengers (auto-rickshaws, auto-vans, easy bikes, CNGs, and legunas) died, accounting for 20.80 per cent of total deaths.
Bus passengers accounted for 26 deaths (6.14 per cent); microbus, private car, ambulance, and jeep occupants for 21 deaths (4.96 per cent); and truck, covered van, and trolley occupants for 19 deaths (4.49 per cent). Locally made vehicles (nosimon, bhotbhoti, mahindra, and tom-tom) claimed 18 lives (4.25 per cent), while six bicycle riders (1.41 per cent) were killed.
In total, 691 vehicles were involved in road accidents. These comprised 162 motorcycles (23.44 per cent), 129 three-wheelers (18.66 per cent), and 113 passenger buses (16.35 per cent).
Heavy and freight vehicles collectively made up 23.29 per cent of involved transport, consisting of 93 trucks, 29 covered vans, 17 pickups, four tractors, six trolleys, seven lorries, three drum trucks, and two City Corporation garbage trucks.
Light passenger vehicles accounted for 11.57 per cent, including 15 private cars, 12 microbuses, eight ambulances, and five jeeps.
Additionally, 32 locally made vehicles (4.63 per cent) – such as nosimon, bhotbhoti, alamsadhu, tom-tom, and mahindra – eight bicycles (1.15 per cent), and 46 unidentified vehicles (6.65 per cent) were involved.
Regional disparities and district statistics
Dhaka Division logged both the highest number of accidents and fatalities, recording 132 accidents and 134 deaths, which represented 29.86 per cent of total crashes and 31.67 per cent of fatalities.
Chattogram Division followed with 17.87 per cent of accidents and 17.73 per cent of deaths; Khulna Division recorded 17.42 per cent of accidents and 14.42 per cent of deaths.
Rajshahi Division logged 12.21 per cent of accidents and 10.87 per cent of deaths; Mymensingh Division accounted for 7.23 per cent of accidents and 7.80 per cent of deaths.
Rangpur Division recorded 5.65 per cent of accidents and 5.91 per cent of deaths; and Barishal Division registered 5.20 per cent of accidents and 6.61 per cent of deaths.
Sylhet Division recorded the lowest numbers, with 20 accidents and 21 deaths (4.52 per cent of accidents and 4.96 per cent of deaths).
At the district level, Gazipur suffered the highest fatality count with 38 deaths, while the capital city of Dhaka recorded 21 deaths and 47 injuries in 52 accidents.
