Although all quarters agree on the demand for risk-free roads, the rate of accidents has not yet come down to a tolerable level. Instead, several fatal accidents are happening every day across the country. Around 16 major causes have been identified behind these accidents, according to a press release from the Shipping and Communications Reporters Forum (SCRF) today. After 17 people died and at least 30 others were injured when a passenger bus lost control and fell into a pond in Jhalakathi on Saturday, questions over road safety have again emerged, the press release said. SCRF demands exemplary punishment for journalist Nadim's murderers According to SCRF, 2,898 people died and 4,720 were injured in 2,781 road accidents across the country in the first six months of this year. Among them, 1,079 motorcycle accidents killed 1,088 people. 60 percent of Dhaka’s Eid holidaymakers to go by road: SCRF The SCRF observation says that the government's policymaking body is sincere in preventing road accidents. However, there is also a lack of accountability from some officials and employees of the concerned government organisations. The influence of owners and labour leaders in the transport sector, interference from political leaders including public representatives, and a lack of awareness among drivers, workers, passengers, and pedestrians are also responsible for accidents. 90 lakh Eid holidaymakers to leave Dhaka by road: SCRF SCRF identified 16 major causes of road accidents: unfit vehicles; unskilled, unaware and unwell drivers; reckless driving; overtaking in violation of prevailing law and regulations; exhausted drivers and helpers due to no fixed weekend leave and working hours; dilapidated roads; significant number of risky turning points on national highways and inter-district roads; large number of motorcycles used commercially on long-distance roads; slow-moving three wheelers on highways; unskilled youths and minors on motorcycles; lack of capacity of the BRTA and irregularities and corruption of many officials and employees concerned; poor traffic management and shortage of highway police and other resources; lack of awareness and knowledge of traffic laws among the general public; tendency of drivers and pedestrians to disobey traffic laws; laxity of authorities concerned in enforcing existing laws; and extortion from vehicles at terminals and several roads, including highways.    

Members of Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF) on Monday demanded an end to corruption in tree plantation, alongside protection of wetlands and afforestation and river dredging across the country. The SCRF came up with the demand while holding a human chain in front of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on the occasion of World Drought and Warming Day in the city’s Segunbagicha area. They also demanded taking effective measures to protect lives and nature and the life of people and agriculture, from the extreme heat waves caused by global climate change. The SCRF also urged for recovering natural wetlands, extinct rivers and lands occupied illegally, and modernization of the river communication system and tree felling in the name of development, and stop irregularities and corruption in river mining and forestry. Member secretary of Safe Waterway Implementation Movement Aminur Rasul Babul, who was present there, said droughts and heat waves will increase further in the coming years and to tackle the situation, all should have to protect the natural wetlands and forestry. He also urged to ensure adequate tree plantation on both sides of the river banks. Expressing concern, he also said the rivers cannot be protected if the inland water communication system is modernised. Noting that the government has allocated sufficient funds, the speakers from the human chain said due to rampant corruption in river dredging, the desired success was not achieved. He also demanded to stop corruption in river dredging and tree plantation projects. DRU President Mursalin Nomani said to save from global warming, tree felling should be stopped, saplings should be planted on a large scale across the country and natural forests should be protected. Presided over by SCRF President Ashish Kumar Dey, the human chain programme was moderated by Training and Research Secretary Mashiur Rahman Rubel while SCRF General Secretary Lion Jahangir Alam read out the welcome speech.

Around 1,484 people were killed and 2,485 others injured in 1,302 road crashes across Bangladesh in last three till March 31 in 2023. It means, 16 (16.48) people died on average per day during the period. During the period the number of accidents involving motorcycles was the highest. Some 579 people died in 527 motorcycle accidents which are  40.47 and 39.01 percent of total fatalities and accidents respectively, according to a report of Shipping and Communication Reporters Forum (SCRF) released on Sunday (April 09, 2023). Read: 2 teens on motorcycle killed in Cumilla road accident According to the organization, the report has been prepared based on the information published in 12 Bengali national dailies, five English national dailies, nine online news portals and news agencies and six regional dailies. In the report, the SCRF has recommended maintaining the ban on motorcycle movement on the Padma Bridge and banning his vehicle on all highways during Eid travel to avoid accidents. The report said that maximum 479 accidents occurred in March where 584 people lost lives and 1,102 injured. Lowest 392 accidents resulted in 411 fatalities and 1,102 injuries respectively in February. Besides, 489 people died in 431 road accidents in January. Read: Student killed in bike accident in Dhaka In these three months, maximum 421 accidents occurred on highways which is 32.33 percent of total accidents. Besides, 327 accident occurred on regional roads which is 25.11 percent. SCRF identified 16 causes of road crashes in the report. Unfit vehicles, unskilled and physically unfit drivers, reckless driving, overtaking,  drivers and helpers’ mental exhaustion, non-fixed weekly holiday and working hours. dilapidated roads at different places significant number of risky turning points on national highways and inter-district roads, movement of slow speed three wheelers on highways, lack of capacity of BRTA and the irregularities and corruption of officials and employees concerned and poor traffic management are among those reasons. Read more: Two ninth-graders killed on Sylhet-Tamabil highway as motorcycles collide

At least 421 people, including 89 women and 46 children, were killed and 366 others, including four women and 33 children, were injured in 393 railway accidents between January 1 and December 31 in several railways across the country in 2019.