Transport accidents across Bangladesh claimed 575 lives in October, according to a report released by the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association. A total of 534 accidents were recorded during the month, leaving an additional 875 people injured.
Of the total accidents, half involved vehicles ramming pedestrians, while a quarter were caused by collisions. Another 15% resulted from vehicles veering out of control.
National highways were the most hazardous, accounting for more than 38% of the incidents. Despite a decline in the total number of accidents and injuries compared to September, fatalities increased significantly. In September, 547 accidents resulted in 554 deaths and 1,038 injuries.
Motorcycles were particularly deadly, contributing to 34% of all road fatalities with 163 deaths recorded. Railways saw 63 accidents in October, leading to 76 deaths and 24 injuries. On the waterways, 19 accidents were documented, resulting in 24 deaths, 36 injuries, and nine missing persons.
The report analyzed 631 vehicles involved in accidents. Motorcycles accounted for the largest share at 24.41%, followed by trucks, pickups, and covered vans at 22.50%. Buses were involved in 18.54% of the incidents, while battery-powered rickshaws and easy bikes made up 17.91%. The remaining vehicles included CNG-powered autorickshaws, three-wheelers, and private cars.
Pedestrians were the most vulnerable group, as nearly half of all accidents involved vehicles hitting them. Head-on collisions accounted for 25.25% of accidents, while 14.77% occurred when vehicles lost control and plunged into ditches. Unique causes, such as scarves becoming entangled in wheels, led to 0.75% of fatalities.
The association attributed the rising number of accidents to various factors, including the absence of road signs and markings, a lack of streetlights on highways, and large potholes caused by prolonged rainfall. Inexperienced drivers, unfit vehicles, reckless driving, and overloading also contributed significantly to the incidents.
To address these issues, the association recommended creating separate lanes for slow-moving and fast-moving vehicles. Improved road infrastructure, including better signage and regular maintenance, was also urged to prevent further accidents and fatalities.
