Bangladesh's National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways today (April 03, 2023) demanded a ban on motorbike movement on all highways for at least 9 days before, during and after Eid. The organisation also called for taking strict action to stop the movement of three-wheelers and charging extra bus fare on all inter-district roads, including highways, during Eid travel. The national committee President Haji Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey made this call in a statement. Besides, leaders of the civic organisation demanded to stop the movement of unregistered, defective and unauthorized vehicles on all roads and highways of the country. Read More: National Committee for taking action against lakhs of illegal vessels They also urged Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to strengthen the operation of mobile court and law enforcement agencies, including police, to implement these demands. Emphasizing safe and hassle-free Eid travel, the statement said that the number of motorcycle accidents across the country is increasing at a geometric rate. Motorcycle accidents accounted for more than 40 percent of all road crashes last year. There is a fear of more mishaps during the Eid season due to the long-distance commute on these two-wheelers. Small and unsafe vehicles slow down larger vehicles like buses and trucks on highways and inter-district roads, the statement said. This increases the risk of accidents and traffic jams. Despite the government ban, various types of three-wheelers including battery-powered rickshaws and numerous locally made vehicles such as Nasimon, Karimon, Bhotbhoti and Alam Sadhu are plying the highways and inter-district roads across the country. Read More: National Committee for reducing metro rail fare by 50% Citing examples from the near past, the statement of the national committee alleged that on many roads, various transport companies charge commuters one-and-a-half to double the fare on every Eid trip. As a result, bus owners and workers earn extra money, but general people are suffering financial losses.

A 60-year-old elderly man died as a three-wheeler rammed into him on the Kalia-Gopalganj road in Kalia upazila of the district on Tuesday. The deceased--Moslem Mollah, was son of late Kuti Miah of Parbasona village under the upazila. Sheikh Taslim Alam, officer-in-charge of Kalia police station, said the accident happened around 2pm when the three-wheeler easybike hit Moslemwhile he was crossing the road in Kalinagar area, leaving him critically injured. Read more: Bangladesh sees 9,951 road accident deaths in 2022, highest in 8yrs: Report Later, locals rushed him to Upazila health complex where physicians declared him dead upon arrival, he said. Apart from this details on the road mishap could not be known.

The death toll from Wednesday's accident on the busy Dhaka-Kuakata highway rose to six on Thursday, with two more passengers of the ill-fated three-wheeler succumbing to their injuries at Barishal Hospital in the past 24 hours. The deceased were identified as Sathi Aktar, and her one-year-old daughter Farhana, residents of Bagdha union of the district. The deceased’s family said Sathi’s husband Faisal Hossain is also battling for his life at Sher-e-bangla Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) after sustaining serious injuries in the fatal accident, in which a speeding bus crashed into their battery-run three-wheeler. Read:Four killed in Barishal road accident Alauddin Milon, officer-in-charge of Bakerganj Police Station, said the accident occurred on Wednesday when the Barishal-bound bus hit the three-wheeler at high speed in the upazila, leaving four of its occupants dead on the spot and three others injured. The three injured of the same family were sent to SBMCH, where Sathi succumbed to her injuries, said Dr Rezaul Karim Sikder, of the emergency department of the hospital. The child died of her injuries at the hospital later in the afternoon, he added. Meanwhile, a three-member probe committee has been formed and directed to submit its report within seven working days, Barishal District Commissioner Jasim Uddin Haider said.

Runner, the country's first motorcycle manufacturer and exporter company, is set to launch a three-wheeler by September next, said State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Junaid Ahmed Palak. As a result, Bangladesh will no longer have to import CNG from abroad. Later, this engine powered car will be replaced by electric three wheeler and step by step, affordable, sustainable electric two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles will be produced and Runner will become 'Tesla' of Bangladesh one day. Also read:Bagh: Environment Friendly Electric Three Wheelers to Hit the Roads in Bangladesh

Benapole, Sept 19 (UNB) – The banned three-wheelers plying the Benapole-Jashore and Navaron-Satkhira highways are increasing risks of accidents.