road accident
5 of a family among 13 dead in bus-pickup van collision on Dhaka-Khulna highway
At least 13 people were dead and 15 others were injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a pickup van on the Dhaka-Khulna highway at Sadar upazila in Faridpur district this morning (April 16, 2024).
All the victims were passengers of the pickup van, and five of them were from the same family.
Two dead, 20 injured in head-on collision between buses in Mymensingh
Some of the deceased were identified as Rafiq Mollah, 35, his wife Sumi Begum, 23, his sons Ruhan Mollah, 6, and Habib Mollah, 3, and Rafiq's mother. Rafiq worked as a liftman at a government office in Dhaka. After the Eid holidays, he was returning to Dhaka with his family.
The identities of the other deceased could not be known immediately.
Wheels of hazard: Motorcycle safety crisis unfolding on Bangladesh’s roads
In Bangladesh, motorcycles, with their ease of navigation and cost-effectiveness, have become a popular mode of transport. However, this preference comes with a significant drawback: motorcycles are at the epicenter of the nation’s road safety crisis. While there was a hopeful decrease in motorcycle-related accidents in the past year compared to 2022, these two-wheelers remain the most common protagonist in the tragic tales of road accidents across the country. The situation is dire, with not only deaths being a common outcome but an increasing number of individuals suffering life-altering injuries, including the loss of limbs.
The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), a vigilant civic organization, illuminates this pressing issue with alarming statistics: from 2020 to 2023, 33-40% of all annual road accidents involved motorcycles. This figure has been on a distressing upward trajectory since the start of this year. According to the NCPSRR, the daily average ranges from 8 to 10 fatalities in 10 to 12 motorcycle accidents—a grim statistic that often escapes the attention of the national media spotlight.
The heart of this crisis is attributed to the presence of underage, unskilled, and unlicensed drivers on the roads. The lack of stringent enforcement by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and the police has been pinpointed as a contributing factor. Ashis Kumar Dey, the general secretary of NCPSRR, doesn’t mince words when he lists the reasons behind the spike in motorcycle accidents: the proliferation of motorcycles, including many that are unlicensed, and reckless driving habits are significant contributors. Dey strongly believes that both law enforcement and the regulatory body, BRTA, need to intensify their efforts.
Motorcycle rider dies in Dinajpur road crash
To combat this escalating problem, Dey proposes a comprehensive crackdown on underage and unlicensed riders and unregistered motorcycles. He advocates for the implementation of mobile courts across all districts for three consecutive months, a bold strategy aimed at curtailing the rampant violations contributing to road safety hazards.
The Road Safety Foundation (RSF) adds a quantitative dimension to the discourse with its annual report, revealing that in 2023, 6,524 individuals, including 974 women and 1,128 children, lost their lives in 6,911 road accidents across the country. Motorbike riders and pillion passengers comprised a staggering 38.12% of these fatalities.
Delving deeper into the data, RSF provides a comparative analysis of motorcycle accidents and fatalities over recent years, presenting a grim narrative of increasing incidents and loss of lives, peaking in 2022. However, a glimmer of hope emerges from the 2023 statistics, showing a 14.83% decrease in accidents and a 19.54% drop in fatalities compared to the previous year. Despite this positive trend, Saidur Rahman, executive director of RSF, remains cautious, warning that this decrease should not be prematurely celebrated as a sign of sustained improvement in road safety.
Rahman further elaborates on the challenges at hand, pointing out that motorcycles constitute 71% of all motor vehicles in the country, with a significant portion of these riders being teenagers and young adults. This demographic exhibits a pronounced disregard for traffic laws, exacerbated by a lack of stringent monitoring and enforcement, leading to reckless behavior and tragic outcomes. The discourse takes a critical turn as Rahman highlights the frequent clashes between motorcycles and larger vehicles such as trucks, covered vans, and buses. The drivers of these larger vehicles often lack the necessary skill or are overworked, contributing to their involvement in accidents with motorcycles. The inadequacy of the public transport system and the chronic issue of traffic congestion have further popularized motorcycles as a preferred mode of transport, despite the associated risks.
Man hit by motorcycle in Jatrabari dies
In a noteworthy development, Rahman acknowledges the role of increased awareness and the efforts of highway police in the recent decline in motorcycle accidents. Abu Raihan Md Saleh, Joint Commissioner (Traffic-North) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, supports this view, attributing the reduction in accidents to the rigorous enforcement of traffic laws. Saleh’s remarks underline the police’s commitment to curbing reckless riding, unregistered bikes, and license violations, although this has led to complaints from bikers about perceived overzealous policing.
Saleh also emphasizes the crucial role of parental responsibility in preventing underage and inexperienced individuals from taking to the roads on motorcycles. He expresses optimism that with heightened vigilance from parents and guardians, the trend of motorcycle accidents can be further curbed.
This multifaceted crisis of motorcycle safety in Bangladesh calls for a concerted effort from all stakeholders: law enforcement, regulatory bodies, civic organizations, and the community at large. The statistics and stories paint a clear picture of the challenge ahead, yet they also offer a blueprint for action. By addressing the root causes of motorcycle accidents and implementing targeted safety measures, Bangladesh can hope to navigate its way out of this perilous situation, making its roads safer for everyone.
Increase vigilance on movement of three-wheelers, motorcycles during Eid holidays: Quader
3 dead as truck hits autorickshaw in Gazipur’s Kaliakair
Three people were killed and two others injured as a speeding truck crashed into a battery-run autorickshaw on Dhaka-Tangail highway in Gazipur’s Kaliakair upazila on Monday (February 19, 2024) morning.
The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately.
Naojhor Highway police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahdat Hossain said the Tangail–bound truck hit the autorickshaw in Sutrapur area, leaving five people including the autorickshaw driver injured.
Read: Bus-auto rickshaw collision leaves 7 people dead in Mymensingh
Members of fire service and police rescued the injured and took them to Kaliakair upazila health complex where physicians declared three of them dead upon arrival.
The rest were undergoing treatment at the hospital, he said, adding that all the victims were passengers of the autorickshaw.
Read more: Bus-motorcycle collision leaves one dead in Faridpur
Six cops injured in road accident during vehicle check in Sylhet
During a routine vehicle inspection on the Sylhet-Sunamganj road at Temukhi, Sylhet district, six policemen sustained injuries when a bus hit them early Thursday (February 15, 2024) morning. The incident occurred as the officers were operating a check-post established to enhance road safety measures.
The injured officers include Azbahar Ali Sheikh, Additional DIG and Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police; Kawsar Dastagir, Additional Deputy Commissioner; Zahurul Islam, Assistant Commissioner of Airport Police Station; SM Nunu Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Airport Police Station; Rezul Karim, Assistant Sub-Inspector; and driver Nayek Habibur Rahman.
Read: Repatriation of 330 Myanmar security forces from Bangladesh underway
According to Zakir Hossain, Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, the accident happened around 6 am when a 'Real Coach' bus from Sunamganj, while undergoing checks, struck the policemen, causing various degrees of injuries.
The victims received immediate medical attention at a local hospital, with Azbahar Ali Sheikh being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further treatment.
Read:RAB arrests ARSA ‘second-in-command’, 2 members from Rohungya camp
Following the incident, police detained the bus supervisor and impounded the vehicle. However, the bus driver managed to escape from the scene. Authorities are currently investigating the accident and have initiated efforts to apprehend the fleeing driver.
Reckless driving triggers multi-vehicle collision in Ctg’s Bangabandhu Tunnel
In a distressing incident last night, reckless driving led to a multi-vehicle crash inside the Bangabandhu Tunnel in Chattogram, resulting in damage to at least five vehicles and injuring several people. The accident, occurring in one of the tunnel's lanes, underscores the growing concerns over traffic safety.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Billal Hossain of the Karnaphuli Police Station, under the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, reported that the chain-reaction collision was initiated by a private car that lost control due to excessive speed. The vehicle's erratic maneuvering led to it colliding with nearby cars, impacting a total of three private cars and two microbuses.
Read more: Out of control truck smashes into two other vehicles on Dhk-Ctg Highway; helper dead, 10 injured
Following the accident, one of the injured was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for immediate medical attention, while others sought treatment at various hospitals. The precise number of individuals injured in the ordeal remains uncertain.
In the aftermath of the collision, authorities seized all vehicles involved as part of their ongoing investigation into the incident. This accident adds to a troubling pattern of similar occurrences within the Bangabandhu Tunnel, which has seen seven to eight accidents in the mere four months following its inauguration on October 28 last year.
The situation has been further complicated by a video that surfaced online, showcasing illegal car racing inside the tunnel immediately after its opening. The viral footage prompted legal action, with a case filed on November 1 against the individuals involved, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations within this crucial infrastructure.
Read more: Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River: All you need to know
Two Ijtema attendees die in Tongi road accident
Two Biswa Ijtema devotees were killed and 11 people were injured when a covered van hit an auto-rickshaw at Shilmun of Tongi in Gazipur on Sunday (February 04, 2024).
The deceased were identified as Jony, 18, son of Monir Hossain of South Sadharchar village in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi, Sohel, 40, son of Kajal Mia of the same village.
Read: 3 more devotees die at Ijtema venue
The injured were Firoz ,50, Jahirul Islam, 52, Jisan, 22, Zahid Hasan, 35, Iqbal Hossain, 55, Nazrul Islam, 50, Anisur Rahman, Md. Borhan Uddin,50 and Basir Uddin, 55 and two unidentified people. The condition of the unidentified victims was stated to be critical.
Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Tongi East Police Station of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said the accident occurred around 7 pm before the Akheri.
3 killed in Dhamrai, Savar road accidents
Three people including a recommended Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadre were killed and two more injured in separate road accidents in Dhamrai and Savar of Dhaka on Thursday, police said.
Two of the deceased were identified as the 41st BCS recommended cadre Md Rubel Parvez and also a former student of Jahangirnagar University and Md Abdul Mannan, a resident of Manikganj.
Savar BNP president Saifuddin arrested
The identities of other deceased and injured could not be known.
Police and witnesses said two buses of ‘Selfie Paribahan’ coming to Dhaka from Manikganj raced to overtake each other on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway, causing the accident.
One of the buses knocked down three people including Rubel and Mannan who were waiting for a bus at Dhamrai Thana Stand in the morning, leaving one of them dead on the spot and two others critically injured, they said.
80 tola of gold looted from 3 Savar jewellery shops
One of the injured succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhamrail Upazila Health Complex, said Savar Highway Police Station’s Officer-in-charge Sheikh Abul Hasan.
Enraged by the incident, students of Jahangirnagar University seized at least 25 buses of the Selfie Paribahan from the morning to afternoon, the OC said, adding that they brought the situation under control later.
7 youths burnt in Savar fire
On the other hand, a father and his son riding on a motorbike hit a pickup van from behind after losing control in front of Jahangirnagar University, leaving the son dead on the spot and the father injured around noon.
394 lives lost on roads across the country in Sept: Road Safety Foundation
As many as 394 people were dead in 398 road accidents across the country in September this year, according to data compiled by the Road Safety Foundation.
Among the casualties, 48 were women and 53 were children.
Road Safety Foundation, a non-government organization, prepared the report based on information from nine national dailies, seven online news portals, and electronic media, according to a press release.
Also read: 496 killed, 681 hurt in accidents in September: Jatri Kalyan Samity
Among the casualties of road accidents across the country, 151 (38.32 percent) were motorcyclists; 16 (4.06 percent) were bus passengers; 15 (3.80 percent) were riders of trucks, covered vans, pickups; and 68 (17.25 percent) were riders of three-wheelers like CNG, easybikes, and autorickshaws.
According to the Road Safety Foundation's analysis, 139 (34.92 percent) accidents occurred on national highways, 183 (45.97 percent) on regional roads, 49 (12.31 percent) on rural roads, 22 (5.52 percent) on urban roads, and 5 (1.25 percent) in other places.
Also read: 3 people, including SI, die in separate road accidents in Dinajpur
The report reveals that in September, Dhaka division saw the highest number of accidents, with 121 reported accidents resulting in 116 fatalities. Sylhet division recorded the lowest number of accidents, with just 20 incidents, while Mymensingh division had the lowest number of fatalities, totaling 23.
At least 17 people were dead and 21 were injured in 23 accidents in the capital city Dhaka, Road Safety Foundation data shows.
The organization identified several factors contributing to the high number of casualties on the country's roads, including, reckless driving, slow-moving vehicles on highways, absence of fixed pay and working hours for drivers, inadequate traffic management, limited capacity of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), and prevalence of extortion within the public transport sector.
According to Road Safety Foundation, 378 lives were lost in 403 road accidents across the country in August.
Also read: 378 people die in 403 road accidents in August: Road Safety Foundation
4 killed as covered-van hits CNG auto-rickshaw in Brahmanbaria
Four people were killed and three others injured when a covered van hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Sohagpur bus stand in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Monday.
The deceased were identified as Sohel Mia, 27, son of Farid Mia, Jilani, 8, son of Nazmul Mia, Askar Mia, 60 and Ujjal, son of Rashid Mia of Kishoreganj district.
Read: Mother, daughter die in Sylhat gas cylinder blast; 4 injured
Akul Chandra Biswas, officer-in-charge of Khatihata Highway Police, said the accident occurred in the afternoon when the covered van hit the stationary CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Shohagpur bus stand, leaving its three passengers dead on the spot and four others injured.
Read: Truck, easy-bike collision leaves 2 dead in Chuadanga
Of the injured, another victim died on the way to Sadar hospital.
The injured were sent to Dhaka for better treatment.
Read: Road accident leaves youth dead in the city
Man sandwiched to death by 2 buses in Dhaka’s Mirpur
An assistant of a bus driver was killed after being sandwiched between two running buses in the capital’s Mirpur area on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Jisan Hossain, 18, assistant of a driver of ‘Paristhan Paribahan’ bus and son of Monir Hossain, a private car driver of Borhanuddin upazila in Bhola district.
Quoting witnesses, Ruhul Amin, assistant sub-inspector of Mirpur Model Police Station, said the accident occurred in the morning at Mirpur-1 Bus Station when the two buses—‘Paristhan Paribahan’ and ‘Prajatir Paribahan’ were in a competition to take passengers.
Two killed in Gazipur road accident
At one stage, Jisan pinned between the two buses, leaving him injured.
Later, he was taken to Pangu Hospital from where he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
ASI dies, constable injured in Cumilla road accident
Police seized the two buses and arrested the drivers.
The body was kept at the hospital morgue.
Chuadanga road accident leaves two dead