Palestinian photojournalist Motaz Azaiza has announced his departure from the conflict-ravaged Gaza Strip. “I had to evacuate for many reasons,” Azaiza shared on platform X, expressing his gratitude and urging prayers for Gaza. Azaiza has emerged as a crucial media figure in the embattled Gaza Strip. With over 18 million Instagram followers and a significant presence on X, he has been a primary source of live updates during the Israel-Hamas conflict, as reported by Al Arabiya. In a heart-wrenching Instagram video, Azaiza, clad in his blue press vest – a symbol of a journalist’s non-combatant status in war zones – declared, “This is the last time you will see me with this heavy, stinky vest.” The video poignantly captures his farewell to Gaza, surrounded by friends and family who assist in removing his press vest and embrace him in a final goodbye. Read more: States are obliged to prevent crimes against humanity and genocide, UN Committee stresses Azaiza's impactful presence on social media has given millions worldwide a personal glimpse into the Gaza war, fostering a deep emotional bond between him and his followers. His absence, particularly when not posting for extended periods, prompts a flood of concerned comments about his safety. Azaiza has courageously documented Israeli airstrikes, often amid the devastation of destroyed homes. Originally focusing on everyday life in Gaza, Azaiza’s work shifted to covering Israel’s military operations, including the wars in 2014 and 2021. Remarkably, his Instagram following skyrocketed from 25,000 to 18 million in just over 100 days since the onset of Israel’s military action following Hamas’ attack on October 7. “We are a nation that is getting killed and we’re trying not to be ethnically cleansed,” Azaiza stated in a post. Tragically, over 80 journalists, predominantly Palestinians, have lost their lives in Israeli strikes since October 7, as per Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner has raised alarms over the unprecedented death toll among journalists in Gaza. The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that the first 10 weeks of the war have been the deadliest for journalists in a single location in recent history. Israel has consistently denied targeting journalists, asserting its focus on Hamas. Meanwhile, on January 9, Israel’s Supreme Court declined an international media request for unrestricted access to Gaza. Read more: Israeli strikes across Gaza kill dozens of Palestinians, even in largely emptied north

As many as 516 people died and 812  were injured in 559 road accidents throughout Bangladesh in June this year, according to the latest report of Road Safety Foundation (RSF). The report released today says that 169 people were killed in 207 motorcycle accidents across the country — 33.75% of the total deaths. Among the dead, 78 were women and 114 children. Nine people were dead and seven were missing in nine waterways accidents while at least 18 people were killed and eleven were injured in 21 railway accidents during the same period. At least 38 sacrificial animals were also killed in accidents during this period. Three killed in road accidents in 2 districts RSF prepared the data based on reports published by nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media. At least 99 pedestrians were killed in road accidents, which is 19.18 percent of the total deaths. Some 76 drivers and their assistants were killed, which is 14.72 percent of the total deaths. 408 deaths in 491 road accidents in May: Road Safety Foundation According to RSF's observation and analysis, the highest number, 247, (44.18%) of the accidents occurred on regional roads, 182 (32.55%) on national highways, 59 (10.55%) on rural roads, and 3 (0.53%) on urban roads. Bank official among 2 dead in Kushtia road accidents On the other hand, 268 (47.94%), the highest among the total accidents, occurred due to losing control over the wheel, 109 (19.49%) due to collision, 97 accidents (17.35 percent) happened due to pedestrians being run over, 72 incidents (12.88 percent ) involved hitting the rear side of vehicles, and 13 (2.32%) occurred due to other reasons.  

As many as 524 people including 73 children were killed and 821 others injured in 467 road accidents across the country in June. Of these, 204 people died in motorbike accidents alone during this period, which is 38.93% of the total fatalities, Road Safety Foundation said its latest report released on Monday. Besides, 107 pedestrians, 86 drivers and their assistants were killed in the accidents . Also read: RSF releases monthly accident statistics On the other hand, waterways accidents claimed at least nine lives with 16 injuries. Besides,16 were killed and four injured in train accidents across Bangladesh last month. Road Safety Foundation prepared the report based on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media. Of the total accident, 159 accidents occurred on the national highways, 174 on regional roads, 72 on rural roads, 56 on city roads and six in other places, said the report. According to the report, 25.05% accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 15.41% in Rajshahi, 16.48% in Chattogram, 14.34% in Khulna, 9% in Barishal, 2.78% in Sylhet, 10.49% in Rangpur and 6.42% in Mymensingh divisions. Also read: Road crashes claim 376 lives during Eid holidays: RSF The highest number of accidents recorded in Dhaka division as 139 people died in 117 accidents while 14 people died in 13 accidents in Sylhet division, which is the lowest compared to other divisions, said the report. The RSF pointed out several major reasons behind the increasing trend of road accidents. 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 address the issues and take necessary initiative to fix those.

The Road Safety Foundation (RSF), a rights body, on Monday demanded the government take strict action to stop anarchy in the transportation sector in general and road and riverways in particular with fares and extortion during the upcoming Eid journey.  “This year, 80-90 lakh people will travel from the capital Dhaka to their homes across the country  to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, which is more than ever before. We do not have the vehicles to transport such a large number of passengers in just 5 days. As a result, there is a risk of increasing vehicle crisis and anarchy this time,” the RSF said in a joint statement. READ: Half bus fares for students in Dhaka metropolitan area from Wednesday In the joint statement, the RSF's Chairman Prof Dr A I Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, Vice Chairman M. S Siddiqui, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, Abdul Hamid Sharif, Profr Hasina Begum and Executive Director Saidur Rahman also said that rent anarchy will be created due to extortion on the roads and waterways, which will make the Eid journey unbearable. The extortion syndicate has already become active on the roads and waterways centering the Eid journeys.  Past experience shows that political extortion of several thousand crores of taka takes place during the Eid season alone. Unfortunately, many police personnel are involved in these extortions, the joint statement said. 

As many as 589 lives were lost while 647 people were injured in 458 road accidents across the country in March, showing an increase of 13.43% from the month of February, according to a report. Besides, at least 19 people were killed in five waterway accidents while 17 others killed and eight others injured in 11 train accidents during the period. Road Safety Foundation (RSF), an organisation that campaigns for safer roads, on Monday revealed this information in a new report on accidents on Bangladesh’s roads this year. Also read: Road accidents claim 166 lives, Covid 85 in Bangladesh in March: BHRC The report was prepared based on accident news carried by seven national dailies, five online news portals and electronic media. On average, 19 people were killed in a day in the month of March while the average rate per day was 16.75 in the month of February, the report said. Besides, the total number of motorcycle accidents was 221 during the last month, which is 38.42 per cent of the total accidents. According to the RSF findings, at least 162 pedestrians were killed in road accidents, which account for 27.50 percent of the total deaths. Some 73 drivers and their assistants were also subjected to road fatalities and that is 12.39 percent of the total deaths. According to the RSF report, 167 accidents occurred on national highways, 179 on regional highways, 68 on rural roads, 39 on city roads and five accidents occurred in others places. Also read: 20km long tailback on Dhaka-Ctg highway following road crashes The Dhaka division witnessed the highest number of accidents with 23.93% from 25.54% while accidents while Sylhet experienced the lowest number of accident and casualty with 5.94% deaths from 5.67% accidents.

As many as 6,284 people, including 927 women and 734 children, were killed in 5,371 reported road accidents across the country in 2021. Road Safety Foundation (RSF), an organisation that campaigns for safe roads, on Saturday revealed a new report on accidents on Bangladesh’s periolous roads last year. The report was prepared based on accident news reported by seven national dailies, five online news portals and electronic media. According to the report, 7,468 people suffered injuries in road accidents during the period. Read: Mother, son killed in Pabna road accident Last year, motorcycle accidents turned out to be the deadliest ones as those alone caused death to 2,214 people, which is 35.23 per cent of the total deaths. A total of 2,078 motorbike accidents were reported during the year that account for 36.38 per cent of the total accidents.

As many as 413 lives were lost while 532 people were injured in 379 road accidents across the country in November last alone, according to a report. Besides, at least nine people were killed and five went missing in seven waterway accidents while 13 people killed and two others injured in 11 train accidents during the period. Road Safety Foundation (RSF), an organisation that campaigns for safer roads, on Saturday came up with the data in a new report on accidents on Bangladesh’s roads this year. The report was prepared based on accident news carried by seven national dailies, five online news portals and electronic media. Also read: 2 killed, 10 injured as train ploughs into bus & auto in Ctg port city As per the RSF report, 407people were killed in 346 road accidents in October last.

There’s been a “dramatic deterioration” of press freedom since the pandemic started to tear across the world, Reporters Without Borders said in its annual report published Tuesday. The group’s new World Press Freedom Index, which evaluated the press situations in 180 countries, painted a stark picture and concluded that 73% of the world’s nations have serious issues with media freedoms. It says countries have used the coronavirus pandemic, which erupted in China in late 2019, “as grounds to block journalists’ access to information, sources and reporting in the field.” Also read: Media Freedom Coalition concerned over Myanmar military’s efforts to muzzle media This is particularly the case in Asia, the Mideast and Europe, the media group said. “Journalism is the best vaccine against disinformation,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “Unfortunately, its production and distribution are too often blocked by political, economic, technological and, sometimes, even cultural factors. In response to the virality of disinformation across borders, on digital platforms and via social media, journalism provides the most effective means of ensuring that public debate is based on a diverse range of established facts.” Also read: Bangladesh drops one notch in World Press Freedom Index Issues have also arisen from a drop in public trust in journalism itself. The group said 59% of people polled in 28 countries claimed that journalists “deliberately try to mislead the public by reporting information they know to be false.”

A man, his daughter and granddaughter died Tuesday, as a truck piled into a CNG auto-rickshaw in Chiwra, an area of Chauddagram in Cumilla. The deceased were identified as Md Hanif, his daughter Mery Begum, and  granddaughter Mehzabin. Yasin Prodhania, Fire Service and Civil Defence in-Charge of Chauddagram, said the driver of the truck lost control of his vehicle and hit the auto-rickshaw hard- killing Mery on the spot and injuring four others. Also read: Three killed in Cumilla road crash After being taken to the hospital, doctors declared two more dead, said Prodhania. Road accidents in Bangladesh Road accidents in Bangladesh claim hundreds of lives every year. At least 484 people were killed and 673 others injured in as many as 427 road accidents in January this year. According to Road Safety Foundation (RSF), the accident rate increased by 25.58 percent while fatalities rose by 8.76 percent in January compared to the same period last year. Also Read: Bangladesh's roads remain perilous; 37,170 killed in 5 years At least 445 lives were lost in 340 road accidents in January 2020, according to RSF. In a report released in February last year, the World Bank said Bangladesh needs to invest an estimated $7.8 billion over the next decade to halve its road crash fatalities. The report attributed the high death rate on Bangladesh’s roads to a lack of investment in systemic, targeted, and sustained road safety programmes.

At least seven persons have been killed and 10 more got injured in four different road accidents in different parts of the the country on Saturday.