United News of Bangladesh

At least 390 people were killed and 1,182 injured in 379 road accidents across the country during the 15-day Eid-ul-Azha travel period, with motorcycles being involved in the highest number of crashes. Secretary General of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS) Mozammel Haque Chowdhury read out the figures at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday. Citing data collected by the association’s Road Accident Monitoring Cell, he said the accidents occurred between May 31 and June 14, covering the rush before and after the festival. In addition to road accidents, 25 train-related incidents left 25 people dead and 12 injured while 11 waterway accidents caused 12 deaths and six missing persons. Compared to last year’s Eid-ul-Azha period, road accidents rose by 22.65%, fatalities by 16.7% and injuries by 55.11%. Motorcycles once again topped the list of road accidents. This year, 134 motorcycle-related accidents caused 147 deaths and left 148 injured, accounting for 35.35% of all road crashes during the Eid travel period. The report found that 37.20% of all road accidents occurred on national highways, 28.23% on regional highways and 28.49% on feeder roads. In urban areas, 4.48% of accidents occurred in Dhaka, 0.79% in Chattogram, and another 0.79% at railway crossings. May sees 614 road fatalities in Bangladesh: Jatri Kalyan Samity To reduce accidents and travel-related suffering during Eid, Mozammel Haque called for a minimum of four days of government holiday before the festival. “We need long-term planning for managing Eid journeys. Enhancing the capacity of public transport and management systems, removing small vehicles from highways, ensuring skilled drivers, fit vehicles, quality roads, and rule of law are all essential,” he said. The association’s observations also noted that potholes caused by rain on highways contributed to many accidents, particularly where vehicles were speeding. A significant number of crashes occurred post-Eid as drivers operated continuously without rest, often resulting in vehicles plunging into ditches or colliding with parked trucks. The report also highlighted widespread public suffering due to excessive fare collection and passenger harassment. Many poor people were forced to travel on the roofs of buses and trains or in open trucks due to fare chaos in public transport.   JKS proposed 12 recommendations to curb accidents, including controlling the import and registration of motorcycles and battery-powered vehicles, installing road signs and lighting on highways, producing skilled drivers, implementing a digital fitness system, scrapping unfit vehicles, and ensuring a minimum four-day Eid holiday. Transport syndicate set to extort Tk 832cr from Eid travellers: Jatri Kalyan Samity The organisation also urged the government to remove VAT and income tax on driving trainees. Buet Professor Armana Sabiha Haque, JKS’s Association Treasurer Mahmudul Hasan Russell, publicity secretary Mohammad Alauddin Masud  were, among others, present at the briefing.

Road accidents claimed 249 lives and left 553 injured  in just 11 days during the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation when a total of 257 accidents occurred, according to data compiled by the Road Safety Foundation. Forty-one women and 59 children were among the dead, it said. Over 2000 people were injured across the country during this period but according to the media report, RSF found only 553 injuries during Eid holidays. The report was made after analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online media during the period. It said 106 people were killed in some 114 motorbike accidents across the country which is 42.57 % of the total fatalities. Among those killed in road accidents in 11 days, 39 were pedestrians which is 15.66 percent of the total deaths and 32 were drivers and assistants of the drivers of different vehicles which was 12.85% of the total fatalities. Additionally, during this period, 13 people were killed and 15 others injured in six waterway accidents while 12 were killed and eight injured in 17 railway accidents, it said. 2 killed, 21 injured in Bogura road accident Vehicles involved in the accidents include 19.11 percent buses, 13 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 7.35 percent private cars and microbuses, 29.16 percent motorbikes, 21.56 percent local vehicles, 5.14 percent battery-run human haulers, 2.69 percent bicycles  and 1.96 percent unknown vehicles. Of the accidents, 33.85 percent occurred on national highways, 38.13% on regional roads and 16.73percent and 11.28% on other roads. The report reveals that Dhaka division saw the highest number of deaths with 28.79 percent fatalities while Sylhet division recorded the lowest number of accidents with just 2.72 percent fatalities. Three killed in Jashore road accident At least 62 people died in 74 accidents in the capital city Dhaka, according to the report.    

As many as 576 people were killed and 1055 injured in 505 road accidents across the country in July, said a report of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.Forty-eight people died in 47 railway accidents while 21 died and 15 injured in 16 waterway accidents, it said.The report was published on Saturday after analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online news portals during the period.Total 644 people were killed and 1075 others injured in 644 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country.One ninety five people died and 122 others were injured in some 180 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 35.64% of the total accidents and 31.61% of the total fatalities.Among those killed in road accidents in July, 119 people were drivers, 77 pedestrians, 17 transport workers, 29 students, seven teachers, three members of law enforcement agencies, one army personnel, one navy personnel, one Border Guard Bangladesh member, one fire service man, 82 women, 42 children and seven activists of different political parties.Highest 173 people were killed and 271 injured in 157 road accidents in Dhaka division while lowest 38 people were killed and 138 others injured in 23 road crashes in Barishal division.Among those vehicles involved in the accidents were 18.74 percent buses, 22.84 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 6.83 percent private cars, jeeps and microbuses, 5.74 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 25.99 percent motorbikes, 15.32 percent battery-run human haulers and 4.51 percent three-wheeler vehicles.Of the accidents, 38.61 percent occurred on national highways, 30.69 on regional highways and 24.15 percent on roads.17 deaths in Jhalakathi accident: Bus driver had a license for light vehicles, RAB says

Three people were killed and at least 77 hurt in separate road crashes in the Debiganj and Boda upazilas of Panchagarh, police said. The deceased were identified as Tamij Uddin, 60, Hasibul Islam, 32, and Swapan Ali, 25, of Tentulia. Fifteen of the 77 injured are still not out of the woods and were sent to the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Also Read: Clash over Ahmadiyya event: Law enforcers on high alert to avoid further trouble in Panchagarh "The accident in Debiganj occurred at Lakshmirhat as a truck crashed into a bus in the afternoon. The bus, full of passengers, was returning from a three-day ijtema (congregation) in the upazila town after Akheri Munajat (final prayers). It overturned in the impact of the crash," Jamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Debiganj Police Station, said. "One devout Muslim died at the scene and 26 others were injured. The injured were rushed to the upazila health complex. Five of them were referred to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. However, the truck driver immediately fled the scene." "The accident in Boda occurred at Chandanbari after the tyre of a bus burst. Two people were killed, and 51 were injured; all of them were returning from the congregation in Debiganj," Sujay Kumar Roy, officer-in-charge of Boda Police Station, said. "The injured were taken to Boda Upazila Health Complex. Later, 10 of them were transferred to the Rangpur Medical College and Hospital."        

Two people, including a woman, were killed and four others injured in two road crashes in Natore's Sadar upazila Friday, police said. The deceased were identified as Parul Begum, 30, and Hanif, 40. One accident occurred as a tanker hit a rickshaw van in the Chawk Tabaria area around 11am, ALM Masud, officer-in-charge (OC) of Jhalmalia Highway Police Station, said. Also read: Lalmonirhat mother, daughter crushed to death by train "Parul and other passengers of the van were rushed to Sadar hospital where she was declared dead upon arrival. The other injured are now undergoing treatment." A speeding microbus ran Hanif over while he was crossing the road in front of Harishpur Police Lines, killing him on the spot, the OC said. The bodies were sent to Sadar hospital morgue for autopsies, he added.      

Eleven people were killed and 11 others injured in a number of road crashes in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Pabna, Chandpur and Mymensingh district on Monday and Tuesday. In Rajshahi, three people were killed when a truck rammed a motorbike at Dangerhat in Paba upazila of Rajshahi district on Tuesday. The deceased were identified as Shaheen Ali, 40, son of Abu Syed, Sohagh Ali, 28, son of Md Babul and Rakib Ali, 26, son of Anwar Hossain of Bahrampur area. Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kornahar Police Station, said the accident occurred around 4 pm when the iron-rod laden truck hit the motorbike when it reached in front of Dangerhat School, leaving Shaheen and Sohagh dead on the spot and injured one. Read more: Road accidents leave 10 dead in 6 districts The injured was taken to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared Rakib dead. Police seized the truck. In Rangpur, three people were dead and at least 10 were injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Rangpur's Taraganj upazila this morning. The identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. The accident occurred in Doalipara area of the Rangpur-Dinajpur highway around 7:45 am, said Mostafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Taraganj police station. According to the police, a Rangpur-bound bus of Tripti Paribahan from Saidpur collided head-on with another bus, of Saimon Exclusive Paribahan, coming from the opposite direction in Doalipara area -- leaving two dead on the spot and 10 injured. "Another person died at the hospital while undergoing treatment there," the OC said. The bodies have been kept in the hospital morgue for autopsies, added the OC. In Chandpur, a teacher and a student of a local madrasha were killed when a bus hit a motorbike at Rasulpur in Kachua upazila in the afternoon. The deceased were identified as Zahid Hossain, 25, son of Abdur Razzak of Shahrasti upazila and jabber Hossain, 13, son of Sahabuddin of Laksham upazila. The accident occurred around 2 pm when the bus of ‘Bogdad Paribahan’ from Chandpur hit the motorbike, leaving them injured, said Ibrahim Khalil, officer-in-charge of Kachua Police Station. They died while taking to upazila health complex. Vehicular movement remained suspended for some time following the accident. In Pabna, two students were killed and another one was injured when a motorbike skidded off the road on Madhupur-Sathia road at Boalmari intersection in Sathia upazila on Monday midnight. The deceased were identified as Rubel Hossain, 22, a student of Pabna government Edward College and son of Nazrul Islam and Juboraz, 16, an SSC examinee and son of Yunus Ali of the upazila. Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sathia Police Station, said the accident took place at 12 am when the motorbike carrying trio fell on the road as its driver lost control over steering, leaving them injured. Later, they were taken to Pabna General Hospital where the doctors declared two of them dead. The duo met the tragedy while returning home from a trade fair. Read more: Road accidents leave 4 dead in 2 districts In Mymensingh, Apu Mia, 20, a helper of a truck driver and son of Abdur Rahman of Kishoreganj district, was killed when the sand-laden truck overturned at Dighirpar in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district in the morning, said Rasheduzzaman Khan, officer-in-charge of Pagla Police Station.

At least five people were killed in road accidents in Gopalganj, Habiganj and Rajbari districts on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. In Gopalganj, two people were killed when their motorcycle crashed into a roadside tree on Dhaka-Khulnahighway in Sadar upazila early Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Maruf, 32, of Chaltabunia village of Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat and his brother-in-law Bayjid Talukdar,18, son of Alam Talukdar of the same upazila. Khan Shariful Islam, inspector of Bhatiapara Highway Police Station, said Maruf and Bayjid were going home from Dhaka on a motorcycle. Read: Biker, pillion rider dead in Kushtia road accident Due to the dense fog, their motorbike hit the tree around 6:30am, leaving them dead on the spot. Police recovered bodies and sent them to Gopalganj Sadar Hospital morgue, added the inspector. In Rajbari, an Ansar member was killed after being hit by a speeding truck in Rajbari's Goalanda upazila on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Rabiul Islam alias Sunny,25, son of Haider Sheikh of Pirojpur municipality. He was an Ansar member of Pirojpur Sadar Upazila. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Goalanda Mor Ahosthanadipur Highway Police StationTariqul Islam said when Sunny reached rail gate area around 10:00 pm the Dhaka-bound speeding truck hit him, leaving him seriously injured. Read: Tourist dies in Cox’s Bazar Locals rescued him and took him to Goalanda Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead on arrival. On information, police recovered the body and handed it over to his family, added the OC. The driver managed to escape with the truck after the accident. In another accident in Habiganj, two cousins were killed as their motorcycle collided with a covered van in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj Tuesday night. The deceased were identified as Sohag Mia,17, son of Aptah Hossain of Madhya Bejura village, and his cousin Shuvo Miah,18, son of Imam Hossain. Their motorcycle collided with a Dhaka-bound covered van coming from the opposite side, leaving the duo severely injured, said Mainul Islam Bhuiya, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shaistaganj Highway Police Station. They were announced dead when they were taken to upazila health complex, he said. On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to Habiganj Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, added the OC.  

Three men were killed in different road crashes in Jashore Sunday after a motorcycle and a car crashed into trees, police said. The deceased were identified as Khokon, 35, of the Kazipara area, Shimul Hossain, 30, of the Post Office Para area, of Jashore town, and Arman, 35, of Sector 6 of the suburb. Read: Biker, pillion rider dead in Kushtia road accident "Shimul, who was going to Chanchra from Dharmatala on his motorcycle, ran into a roadside tree while making way for a pedestrian. He died from the impact of the crash," Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Tajul Islam said. "Also, Khokon and Arman died at the scene after their car veered off the road and hit a tree at Manoharpur on the Jahsore-Magura road," he added.

Four people were killed in road accidents on Dhaka-Tangail and Dhaka-Mymensingh highways, in Gazipur district, on Friday. Two of the deceased were identified as Zakir Hossain, 24, and Abu Tayeb Moon, 23, of Nandail upazila of Mymensingh district while the identities of two others could not be known immediately. Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, said Zakir and Abu Tayeb were killed on the spot when a speeding bus hit a motorbike they were on at the Chourasta area of Gazipur on Friday evening. Also read:Two dead in Kalabagan road accident Meanwhile, two more victims died on the spot when an unidentified vehicle ran them over on Dhaka-Tangail highway around 11 pm, said Faruk Hossain, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station. Police rescued the bodies and took them to Shaheed Tajuddin Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy.  

As many as 739  people including 109 children were killed and 2042 others injured in 632  road accidents across the country in July. Of these, 251 people died in motorbike accidents alone, which is 33.96% of the total fatalities, Road Safety Foundation said in its latest report released on Saturday. These road crashes left 118 pedestrians, 137 drivers and their assistants dead during the period. On the other hand, 14 waterways accidents claimed at least 18 lives with seven injuries. Besides, 41 were killed and 33 others injured in 26 train accidents across Bangladesh last month. Also read: Father-daughter die, 3 of family hurt as car falls into canal in Sylhet Road Safety Foundation prepared the report based on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media. Of the total accidents, 252 accidents occurred on the national highways, 199 on regional roads, 109 on rural roads, 64 on city roads and eight in other places, said the report. According to the report, 31.48% accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 15.18 % in Rajshahi, 16.61% in Chattogram, 13.13% in Khulna, 5.69% in Barishal, 4.90 % in Sylhet, 6%in Rangpur and 6.69% in Mymensingh divisions. The highest number of accidents was recorded in Dhaka division where 228 people were killed in 199 accidents. Forty-six people were killed in Barishal division, the lowest compared to other divisions, said the report. The RSF pointed out several major reasons behind the rise in the number of road accidents. Also read: Mirsharai tragedy: Death toll rises to 12 as another dies at Ctg hospital The reasons include - faulty vehicles; reckless driving; desperate mentality, incompetence and illness of drivers; unsettled wages and working hours; prevalence of low-speed traffic on highways; reckless motorcycling by the youth; the tendency of flouting traffic rules, poor management of traffic; lack of efficiency of the BRTA; and extortion in the sector. The RSF urged the authorities concerned to take necessary initiative to address the issues.