A total of 5024 people were killed in 5,495 road accidents across the country in 2023, according to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA).
The number is much lower than that provided by the Jatri Kalyan Samity, a private platform advocating passenger safety, who released their own annual report earlier this week that said as many as 7,902 people died and 10,372 others were injured in 6,261 road accidents across the country in 2023.
The difference of almost 3000 is enormous by anyone's standards. Jatri Kalyan Samity prepared their report by analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online news portals during the period. BRTA is the regulatory body for the sector, and it publishes the data collected from 64 district offices - after cross-checking with other stakeholders. On the face of it, their process and availability of resources would suggest they are the more credible authority.
Coming back to the BRTA report, it said 433 people were killed in 483 accidents in December, said Nur Mohammad Majumdar, chairman of BRTA while talking at a press briefing held at BRTA Bhaban in the city's Banani area on Tuesday.
In the month of December, the highest number of fatalities 88 people were killed and 88 others injured in 86 accidents that occurred in Dhaka division. Followed by 79 killed and 172 injured in 94 accidents in Chattogram; 63 killed and 51 injured in 74 accidents in Rajshahi; 49 killed and 135 injured in 73 accidents in Khulna; 28 killed and 83 injured in 33 accidents in Barishal; 24 killed and 25 injured in 24 accidents in Sylhet, 54 killed and 43 injured in 55 accidents in 55 accidents in Rangpur and 48 killed and 44 injured in 44 accidents in Mymensingh.
In January, 333 people were killed and 336 others injured in 322 accidents while 303 people were killed and 416 others injured in 308 accidents in February, 415 people were killed and 688 others injured in 387 accidents in March, 459 people were killed and 705 others injured in 476 accidents in April, 394 people were killed and 649 others injured in 483 accidents in May last year.
Besides, 562 road crashes claimed lives of 504 people and 785 people injured in the month of June while 533 killed and 934 injured in 566 accidents in July, 376 killed and 659 injured in 458 accidents in August, 410 killed and 609 injured in 454 road accidents in September, 394 killed and 492 injured in 437 accidents in October and 470 killed and 518 injured in 559 accidents in November across the country.