Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (June 19, 2024) said that motorcycles and easy bikes are the leading causes of road accidents across the country. Quader made these remarks during an Eid greetings exchange at his ministry's conference room in the Secretariat at 11:30 am. "It's very unfortunate that lately, motorcycle accidents have become more frequent. Looking at the accident data, motorcycles account for the highest number of accidents, followed by easy bikes. Reckless driving also plays a significant role. We cannot ignore this. I urge the Secretary to expedite the formulation of a policy," he said. Jatri Kalyan Samity calls for end to Eid transport fare anarchy and road accidents The minister further mentioned that the lack of regulation for millions of three-wheelers and motorcycles is disrupting order on the roads, highlighting the urgent need for a policy.  "People's lives should come before livelihoods. In trying to protect livelihoods, lives are being put at risk. Those involved in electoral politics often support or endorse this. Easy bikes on highways receive a lot of support, sometimes even encouragement from behind the scenes. In Dhaka, our current regulations ensure that 98 percent of riders have helmets," the minister said. Three dead, one injured in separate road accidents in Kurigram, Gazipur Quader also noted that while the Eid journeys on roads have been relatively smooth, the return trips remain a concern. "The return journeys often receive less attention, which can lead to accidents. Therefore, we must focus on ensuring the safety of the return journeys as well." He emphasized that maintaining discipline on the roads will significantly reduce accidents. "We must prioritize discipline to reduce road accidents," Quader added. Road accidents claimed 708 lives in April: Jatri Kalyan Samity

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.    

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said that despite the price hike of essentials around the world, Bangladesh is still in a better position compared to many others. Quader, also Awami League general secretary, made the remark today during a briefing on current issues at the ministry's meeting room in the Secretariat. “This rise in prices is not just limited to Bangladesh; it is happening all over the world, including in countries like France and Germany,” he said. He also said that the government is making sincere efforts to address this problem, and commodity prices have already gone down, with further decease expected. Quader also mentioned that irregularities and price manipulation are not new issues in Bangladesh and they happen during Ramadan. “But the government is taking action against such practices,” he said. Read more: Govt's power price hike an 'anti-people' decision: Fakhrul Regarding criticism that initiatives against syndicates have not yielded result yet, the minister said that if results were not achieved, Bangladesh would not be considered a success by others. He pointed out that despite challenges, Bangladesh has made significant progress and has received praise from world leaders such as the presidents of US, China and Russia. On another note, Quader said it is not appropriate to evaluate the success or failure of a ministry solely based on road accidents. When asked about his ability to improve road safety, he responded by drawing attention to the high number of accidents and fatalities that occur in countries such as India and Saudi Arabia. “Yesterday over 20 people died in a road accident in Saudi Arabia. What are your thoughts on this tragic incident? A blown tyre can cause accidents and lead to such devastating outcome,” he said. Quader emphasized that accidents are a common occurrence worldwide and cannot overshadow the numerous successful projects implemented during the government's tenure. Read more: Govt to soon fix prices of 9 daily essentials He also suggested that incidents of high success of the government may be targeted by critics. Quader went on to discuss the revision of the RPO, final approval of which is pending.  

Two people were killed and four others injured in  separate road accidents in Sirajganj's Sadar and Raiganj upazilas on Friday night and Saturday morning. In Sadar upazila, an engineer of the Bangabandhu Railway Bridge project was killed after being hit by a truck in Mulibari Railgate area on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Hamidur Rahman, 28, son of Chand Mandol of Kumiradanga village of Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district. The accident occurred when the truck hit Hamidur, leaving him dead on the spot, said Md. Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station. A case was filed in this regard, added the OC. Also Read: 3 family members among 5 dead in accident involving truck, pick-up and microbus on Dhaka-Sylhet highway In another accident in Raiganj, a man was killed and four others suffered injuries after a bus rammed a rickshaw van on Saturday, police said. The deceased Kanai Haldar,30, son of Shri Rampada Haldar of Kalinja Haladarpara village of Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj. Police said the accident occurred in the morning as they were going to Sadar upazila from Kalinja of Raiganj upazila in the van along with others. When they reached the town's court mosque area, the speeding bus hit their vehicle, killing Kanai Haladar on the spot, he added. Among the injured, Rampada Haladar, father of the deceased Kanai Haladar was sent to Bogura in critical condition. Three others were admitted to the Bongamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib General Hospital in Sirajganj, said the OC.  

Three people were killed in road accidents in Khulna and Magura districts on Tuesday morning. In Khulna, two people died in separate accidents that took place at Parchalna village of Chalna municipality in Dakope upazila and on Notun Rasta Mor area in the city. According to locals, a woman died after being hit by a speeding motorcycle in front of her house at around 11 am at Parchalna village. Read more: Bangladesh sees 9,951 road accident deaths in 2022, highest in 8yrs: Report Parul Biswas, 60, was seriously injured and later died on the way to a hospital. In another road accident at around 9 am motorcyclist  Aksar, 26  was killed following a collision with a tank lorry in the city, said Kazi Kamal, officer-in-charge of Daulatpur Police Station. The driver and helper of the tank lorry flee the scene immediately. In Magura, Md Pappu, 19, a  college student, was killed in a collision between two motorcycles in Sreepur upazila of the district. Read more: Mother, daughter among 3 killed in Faridpur road crash Officer-in-charge of the Sreepur police station Shukdev Roy said Pappuwas seriously injured following the collision. Later he died at Faridpur Medical College and Hospital.

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.  

Four passengers of an autorickshaw died as the vehicle fell into a three-way collision with a truck and ambulance at Taraganj upazila in Rangpur Monday. The deceased were identified as Sahir Uddin, 40, Khademul Islam 38, Azanur Rahman, 45 and Habibullah, 45, said Anis, a firefighter of Taraganj Fire Service and Civil Defence. Read more: 4 killed in road accidents yesterday in Gazipur The accident occurred around 6:30 pm near Nengti Chera bridge on Rangpur-Dinajpur highway. The autorickshaw heading toward Syedpur collided with a truck and ambulance coming from the opposite side leaving four people dead on the spot, said police quoting witnesses. Two more people were injured in the accident and had been admitted to hospital.

Two motorcyclists were killed in the city on Khulna-Satkhira highway as a bus hit their vehicle on Monday morning.  The deceased were identified as Hafiz Md Shariful Islam, 23, from Morelganj upazila in Bagerhat and Md Belal Hossain,24 , from Rajbandh area.  The accident occurred around 7:30 am in front of Pragati School as the recklessly-driven Khulna-bound bus hit the motorcycle, leaving Shariful and Belal dead on the spot, said witnesses.  Another witness said the bus hit the motorcycle while giving side to a Satkhira-bound truck and immediately fled the spot.  According to locals, Shariful was a local madrasa teacher and Belal was a muezzin (official for prayer calls) of a mosque.  Locals blocked Khulna-Satkhira road for an hour protesting the accident and later left the road when police appeared there, said Md emdadul Haque, Officer-in-Charge of Harintana police station.  The bodies have been sent for autopsy and efforts are on to detain the bus driver, said the OC. 

Three people, including a seven-day-old child, were killed and four others injured in a collision between a bus and a microbus in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur early Sunday. Two of the deceased were identified as Banya, 30, and Rafiqul, 40. Read:9 dead, 50 injured as 2 buses collide in Rangpur The accident occurred around 5:30 am when the Nilphamari-bound bus of ‘Bhai Bhai Paribahan’ crashed into the microbus coming from opposite direction near Kharubhaj Bridge, said Mahbub Morshed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Taraganj highway police. The accident left seven members of a family travelling on the microbus seriously injured. The injured were rushed to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital where three of them succumbed to their injuries, said the OC. Read: 5 killed in Rangpur road crash On September 5, nine people were killed and around 50 others injured in a head-on collision between two busses on Rangpur-Dinajpur highway near Kharubhaj Bridge of the upazila.

A passenger bus rammed into a fuel truck on a highway in eastern Pakistan before dawn on Tuesday, igniting a fire that killed at least 20 people, police and rescue officials said. According to the officials, the accident happened near the town of Jalalpur Peerwala in Punjab province. The bus was traveling from the eastern city of Lahore to the southern port city of Karachi. Tahir Wattoo, a local government official in Multan, the nearest district, said early indications were that the bus driver's negligence had caused the collision. The driver, who was also killed, slammed into the back of the fuel truck, according to photographs from the scene. Read: Traffic accident in heavy rain in Pakistan leaves 13 dead The injured were taken to hospital and at least six passengers were reported in critical condition, he added. Some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition and DNA tests will be conducted to identify the remains before the bodies are handed over to the families, Wattoo also said. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif offered his condolences in a statement and asked health authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured. Deadly traffic accidents are common in Pakistan due to poor road infrastructure and disregard for traffic laws.