United News of Bangladesh

At least 463 people were killed and 1,323 others injured in 532 road accidents across the country in June, according to a report by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association) on Tuesday. According to the report, the same month also saw 53 railway accidents that killed 45 people and injured eight, while five waterway accidents claimed five lives and left five others hurt. Combining road, rail and waterway accidents, the country recorded 590 accidents in June that killed 513 people and injured 1,336 others, the report said. Motorcycle accidents alone accounted for 172 crashes, killing 173 people and injuring 132 – representing 32.33 percent of all accidents, 37.36 percent of deaths and 9.97 percent of injuries recorded during the month, it added. Chattogram division recorded the highest number of road accidents in June with 128 crashes that killed 126 people and injured 373, while Mymensingh division saw the fewest, with 25 accidents killing 26 and injuring 35. The Samity's Accident Monitoring Cell compiled the data by reviewing media reports, noting that the actual casualty figures could be significantly higher, as many incidents go unreported in newspapers. Among those affected in road accidents, the report identified 22 law enforcement personnel, 116 drivers, 82 pedestrians, 29 transport workers, 87 students, 10 teachers, 52 women, 55 children, one journalist, one engineer, and 10 political party activists. Fatalities included two police members, one army member, one engineer, 111 drivers of various vehicles, 71 pedestrians, 45 women, 47 children, 60 students, 11 transport workers, 10 teachers, and nine political party activists, according to the report. Of the 795 vehicles identified as involved in road accidents, motorcycles made up 26.79 percent, followed by trucks, pickups, covered vans and lorries at 25.28 percent, buses at 17.35 percent, battery-run rickshaws and easy-bikes at 14.96 percent, CNG-run auto-rickshaws at 5.28 percent, nosimon-korimon-mahindra-tractors and leguna at 4.15 percent, and cars, jeeps and microbuses at 6.16 percent. By type, 27.63 percent of accidents involved vehicles hitting or running over victims, 43.23 percent were head-on collisions, 20.67 percent involved vehicles losing control and falling into ditches, 7.14 percent were attributed to miscellaneous causes, 0.18 percent to scarves getting entangled in wheels, and 1.12 percent to train-vehicle collisions. By location, 44.73 percent of accidents occurred on national highways, 28.38 percent on regional highways, and 20.67 percent on feeder roads. Additionally, 4.13 percent occurred in Dhaka city, 0.93 percent in Chattogram city, and 1.12 percent at railway crossings. The report cited unchecked movement of motorcycles, battery-run rickshaws and auto-rickshaws on national highways, absence of road signs, markings and streetlights leading to sudden entry of vehicles from feeder roads, lack of road dividers, blind bends caused by roadside trees, faulty highway construction, mechanical defects in vehicles, traffic law violations, wrong-way driving, extortion on roads, carrying passengers on goods vehicles, unskilled drivers, unfit vehicles, overloading, reckless and non-stop driving without rest, potholes formed during rains, and damaged road surfaces as significant factors behind the accidents. It also pointed to low-income commuters being forced to travel on bus roofs, truck roofs and atop goods-laden trucks due to excess fares being charged, contributing to the rise in road accidents. The Samity recommended placing road transport management under the supervision of local and foreign transport experts and international road safety specialists instead of officials from the Road Transport Ministry and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), to stem the yearly toll of deaths on the roads. Its other recommendations include developing a modern bus network across the country on the model of developed nations, introducing technology-based road control systems, ensuring driver training and licensing through modern technology, establishing service lanes with footpaths on major national highways, curbing extortion on roads through structural reforms, ensuring drivers' salaries and working hours, setting up footpaths and pedestrian crossings alongside road signs and markings on highways, ensuring quality road construction and repair with regular road safety audits, modernising the vehicle fitness certification system, withdrawing outdated public transport vehicles, enhancing BRTA's capacity, establishing a traffic training academy, and ending the monopoly control of bus owners' associations and worker federations over the transport sector.

A total of 614 people were killed and 1,196 injured in 597 road accidents across the country in May, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report also revealed that 35 people lost their lives and 14 were injured in 48 railway accidents, while nine people were killed and 10 remain missing in seven waterway accidents. Sylhet records 30 deaths in 29 road accidents in April: Report The report was released on Thursday analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online media during the period and a press release in this regard signed by its secretary general was also issued. A total of 658 people were killed and 1, 270 were injured in 652 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country. Besides, 256 people died and 201 others were injured in some 233 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 39.02 percent of the total accidents and 41.69 percent of the total fatalities. Dhaka division witnessed highest 139 road accidents with 148 fatalities and 271 injuries while Barishal witnessed the lowest 30 road accidents with 30 deaths. Among those killed in road accidents in May, two were members of law enforcement agencies, one army personnel, one firefighting personnel, two physicians, one freedom fighter, 142 drivers, 95 pedestrians, 59 women, 54 children, 66 students, 34 transport workers, five teachers and seven activists of different political parties. Among the vehicles involved in the accidents were 29.41 percent motorcycles, 12.48 percent buses, 22.53 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 5.39 percent private cars, SUVs and microbuses, 6.66 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 14.17 percent battery-run human haulers and 9.31 percent three-wheeler vehicles, said the report. Of the accidents, 33.50 percent occurred on national highways, 32.83 on regional roads and 28.14 percent on roads. Besides, 3.51 percent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 1.50 percent in Chattogram city and 0.50 percent on rail tracks, it added. The association blamed reckless driving, motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, lack of street lights, road marking or road sign, movement of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules, unskilled drivers and helpers and poor traffic management for the accidents and deaths.

A powerful transport syndicate has started extorting Tk 832.30 crore from over 1.5 crore Eid travellers as "tips," forcing them to pay exorbitant extra fares, according to a report by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. The report, presented by the organisation’s Secretary-General, Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Wednesday, highlighted widespread fare irregularities across road, rail, water and air transport. Jatri Kalyan Samity demands end to overcharging, harassment during Eid travel Eid Travel Rush and Fare Anarchy Between 20 March and 31 March, approximately 22.74 crore passenger trips will take place in Dhaka, driven by Eid shopping and travel to home districts. Of these, 1.5 crore people will leave Dhaka for their hometowns. Despite government efforts to regulate fares, 98% of public transport operators are charging excessive amounts, the report states. Fare hikes are primarily attributed to inflation, extortion, employee Eid bonuses, and owners’ profit motives. Besides, the absence of passenger representatives in monitoring teams has made oversight ineffective. Jatri Kalyan Samiti demands ban on unfit vehicles during Eid travel Breakdown of Extra Fare Collection Road Transport ·         Long-distance buses and minibuses: Tk 90 crore extra from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per passenger). ·         City buses: Tk 12 crore from 40 lakh trips (Tk 30 per passenger). ·         CNG auto-rickshaws: Tk 60 crore from 30 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per trip). ·         Battery-powered and pedal rickshaws: Tk 160 crore from 8 crore trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Leguna, Duranta, Diganta (human hauliers): Tk 16 crore from 80 lakh trips (Tk 20 per passenger). ·         Ride-sharing motorcycles: Tk 250 crore from 2.5 crore trips (Tk 100 per trip). ·         Private cars, jeeps, microbuses: Tk 21 crore from 20,000 trips (Tk 3,500 per trip). Water Transport ·         Launches and boats: Tk 80 crore extra from 40 lakh passengers (Tk 200 per passenger). ·         Ferries and river crossings: Tk 100 crore from 10 crore trips (Tk 10 per passenger). Rail Transport ·         Train roof passengers: Tk 80 lakh from 80,000 passengers (Tk 100 bribe per passenger). ·         Passengers without tickets: Tk 7.5 crore from 2.5 lakh passengers (Tk 300 per bribe). Air Transport Domestic flights: Tk 35 crore from 1 lakh passengers (Tk 3,500 per passenger). Call for Reforms The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity emphasised that the fare hikes are exacerbating the cost of living, encouraging corruption, and increasing road accidents. To curb these issues, it urged authorities to introduce digital fare collection, ban cash transactions, use CCTV for fare monitoring, and improve transport governance. 475 dead from 452 road accidents in October: Jatri Kalyan Samity Press Conference Attendees Present at the press conference were newly elected Chairman Dr Mohammad Zakaria, former Election Commission Secretary Syed Ahmad, former Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority Executive Director Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and Mohammad Alauddin Masud.

As Bangladesh’s roads remain perilous, some 8,543 people lost their lives and 12,608 suffered injuries in road accidents across the country in 2024 alone. General Secretary of Jatri Kalyan Samity Mojammel Hossain Chowdhury came up with the shocking figures in its annual report on road accidents at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) on Saturday. Besides, 9,237 fatalities and 13,190 injuries were recorded in 6,974 accidents on roads, railways and waterways during the period. According to the report, 497 railway accidents left 512 people dead and 315 injured. Four killed, scores injured on Dhaka-Mawa Expressway accidents Besides, 118 accidents on waterways caused 182 deaths, 267 injuries and left 155 people missing. Among 6,359 road accidents, 2,329 were motorcycle accidents that led to 2,570 fatalities and 3,151 injuries during the period.

The month of September saw 493 road accidents in Bangladesh, leaving 498 people dead and 978 injured, according to a report by Jatri Kalyan Samity. Samity General Secretary Mohammad Mozammel Haque Chowdhury shared the findings at a press conference in the capital on Thursday.     The report says there were 40 railway accidents that claimed the lives of 37 people, while four were injured. Besides, 14 accidents on waterways left 19 people dead, 56 injured and 47missing. According to the report, motorcycle accidents accounted for 195 deaths and 149 injuries, representing 38.94% of total accidents, 39.15% of fatalities and 15.23% of injuries. 35,384 killed in road, railway, waterway accidents since 2019 Chattogram Division experienced the highest number of road accidents in September, with 116 accidents resulting in 109 deaths and 251 injuries, while Barishal Division reported the least, with only 26 accidents, leading to 23 deaths and 48 injuries. Victim Demographics The report indicates that among those who lost their lives in road accidents this month were 10 members of law enforcement, 109 drivers, 87 pedestrians, 49 transport workers, 51 students, 12 teachers, 68 women, and 56 children. Among the 792 vehicles involved in accidents, motorcycles comprised 27.52%, trucks and pickups 21.71%, and buses 13.25%. Causes of Accidents The Jatri Kalyan Samity attributed the primary causes of road accidents to lack of traffic police presence, absence of road signs and street lighting, insufficient training signs for new drivers, vehicle defects and violations of traffic laws and driving against traffic flow, inexperienced drivers and unfit vehicles. Recommendations for Prevention To reduce the number of accidents, the association made a number of recommendations, including halting the import and registration of smaller vehicles, installing proper lighting on highways, initiating training programmes for drivers and curbing extortion on the roads.  

Road crashes claimed 585 lives across the country in January, said a report of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. Forty-six people killed in 44 railway accidents while 11 killed and one was injured in 13 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 media during the period. Total 642 people were killed and 978 others injured in 650 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country. Two hundred five people died and 114 others were injured in some 214 motorbike accidents across the country last month. Read more: 2 dead in Mymensingh road crash Among those killed in road accident in January, 206 people were drivers, 109 pedestrians, 35 transport workers, 53 students, 10 teachers, 13 members of law enforcement agencies, 115 women, 62 children, five journalists, one freedom fighter, two lawyers, three engineers and 14 activists of different political parties. Among those vehicles involved in the accidents were 12.5 percent buses, 24.75 percent pick-up vans,, covered vans and lorries, 5.2 percent private cars, jeeps and microbuses, 5.88 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 27.32 percent motorbikes, 14.58 percent battery-run human haulers and 9.92 percent three-wheeler vehicles. Of the accidents, 29.51 percent occurred on national highways, 38.61 on regional roads and 24.45 percent on roads. Besides, 5.22 percent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 1.18 in Chattogram city and 1.01 percent on rail tracks. The association blamed reckless driving, dangerous overtaking and movement of unfit vehicles, unskilled drivers and helpers, plying of slow-moving three-wheelers and human-haulers on highways, using headphones or mobile phones, using drugs, illegal occupation of footpaths, poor traffic management, and violation of traffic rules for the accidents and deaths.

A total of 10,858 people were killed and 12,875 others injured in 7,617 road, railway and waterway accidents across the country in 2022, said Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers’ welfare platform, on Monday. Of them, 6,749 road accidents left 9,951 people dead and 12,356 others injured which are the highest figures in the last eight years. Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, general secretary of the platform,  presented their new report at a press conference in the capital. Read more: Mother, daughter among 3 killed in Faridpur road crash Deaths in road crashes saw a rise by 27.43 percent in 2022 than that of 2021, it said. In the just-concluded year, 550 people were killed and 201 others injured in 606 railway accidents while 262 accidents on waterways claimed lives of 357 people, and left 318 others injured and 743 more missing. The report shows that 52.02 percent of the total accidents last year were on regional highways, 27.70 percent on national highways and 11.88 percent on feeder roads. Besides, 5.67 percent of the total accidents in the country occurred in the capital, 1.71 percent in Chattogram city and 0.99 percent in rail crossings. Read more: Road crashes claim 5 lives in 3 dists Common causes of road accidents Reckless driving, risky overtaking, dilapidated roads, unfit vehicles, unskilled drivers, using mobile phones or headphones while driving and lack of awareness among road users were cited as main reasons behind road crashes. The platform alleged that the number of road accidents and deaths is increasing due to irregularities, corruption and lack of accountability of the agencies responsible for ensuring road safety. It also stressed the need for modernisation of the traffic system, ensuring fitness of vehicles to keep pace with the developed world. Read More: Cinematographer Zahid Hossain killed in road accident

Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity has demanded the government to immediately repeal its decision of hiking fuel prices to ease the already-existing sufferings of the people created by the price hikes of essentials. The Samity made the demand through a press release published on Saturday. The release mentions last year’s fuel price hike by the government, saying that prices of Diesel and Kerosene were hiked by Tk 15 per litre, thus taking their prices to Tk 80 from Tk 65. Read: Commuters' misery mounts countrywide after fuel price hike Following the price hike, fares of public transport including buses and launches were hiked by 27 percent and 35 percent, respectively, which were much higher compared to the increase in fuel prices, the release read. The release added that due to hikes in fuel prices, costs of transportation will double, further increasing the prices of essentials. Industrial production will be hampered, pressure on imports will be created. While rising imports will affect the country’s economy, it’ll increase unemployment too. Prices of fuel in the international market are showing a downward trend. Raising fuel prices instead of lowering them to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is unacceptable and anti-people. We urge the government to revert fuel prices to their previous rates immediately, the release concluded.  

Eight agriculture workers were killed and four others injured when a rice-laden human-hauler plunged into a roadside ditch at Sonapur-Barikbazar in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district early Thursday.

Jatri Kalyan Samity, a passengers' welfare platform, on Tuesday demanded the withdrawal of the increased fares of buses and minibuses as the transport owners are not maintaining the health guidelines to prevent coronavirus transmission.