A shocking 614 people lost their lives while 1,196 others suffered injuries in 597 road accidents across Bangladesh during May, according to a comprehensive report released by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity on Thursday. The passenger welfare organisation compiled these grim statistics by analysing accident reports published in national and regional newspapers as well as online media outlets.
The transport sector’s overall casualty figures paint an even bleaker picture, with a combined total of 658 fatalities and 1,270 injuries recorded across 652 accidents involving roads, railways, and waterways. Railway accidents proved particularly deadly, with 48 incidents claiming 35 lives and leaving 14 injured. Waterway tragedies added to the toll, with seven accidents resulting in nine deaths and 10 persons still missing.
Motorcycle accidents emerged as a major concern, accounting for 39% of all road crashes (233 incidents) and responsible for 41.7% of total fatalities (256 deaths). Regional disparities were evident, with Dhaka Division witnessing the highest number of accidents (139) and deaths (148), while Barishal recorded the lowest figures (30 accidents, 30 deaths).
The human cost of these accidents becomes even more heartbreaking when examining the victim profiles. Among those killed were 142 drivers, 95 pedestrians, 59 women, 54 children, and 66 students. The toll also included two law enforcement officers, one military personnel, a firefighter, two physicians, and a freedom fighter.
Vehicle analysis revealed motorcycles as the most dangerous, involved in 29.4% of accidents, followed by pick-up vans and lorries (22.5%), and buses (12.5%). Geographically, national highways proved the most perilous, hosting 33.5% of accidents, with regional roads (32.8%) and city streets (28.1%) close behind.
The association identified multiple contributing factors including reckless driving, the presence of unfit vehicles on roads, inadequate signage and lighting, poor traffic management, and the dangerous practice of allowing three-wheelers on highways. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive road safety reforms across the country.