Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Sazzat Ali has emphasised the need to involve traffic police in road accident investigations. "In the event of an accident, the investigation should be conducted using scientific methods, and the police's capabilities in this regard need to be improved. Though police are responsible for the roads, the crime division conducts investigations into road crashes. It is necessary to involve traffic police in such investigations or coordinate with them," he said. Sazzat Ali made the remarks while addressing a training session on Monday, arranged for DMP officers for improving skills to prevent road accidents, at the InterContinental Dhaka. International organisation Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) organised the two-day training covering techniques for accident prevention, with 60 police officers attending. DMP Commissioner orders urgent probe into July movement cases On the concluding day (Monday), the DMP commissioner, who attended the event as the chief guest, highlighted the importance of following traffic rules for maintaining road discipline and preventing road crashes. "However, many commuters do not comply with traffic rules, particularly issues like not adhering to speed limits and suddenly changing lanes, which are often responsible for accidents,” he said. He said most road crashes in Dhaka occur between midnight and morning when the roads are relatively empty, directing police officers to strictly enforce speed limits on the streets and implement existing laws to prevent road crashes. Chaired by Abdul Wadud, initiative coordinator of Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) and former additional secretary, DMP's Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Sarwar, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Superintending Engineer Khandkar Mahbub Alam, and senior DMP officers were also present on the occasion.  Traffic sergeants to get small arms to combat mugging: DMP Commissioner On the first day of the two-day event, "Road Policing Leadership" was discussed and on the second day, "Speed as a Key Risk Factor in Road Crashes" was focused.

The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) on Sunday called for controlling battery-run rickshaw movement across the country's large cities including the capital Dhaka, to avoid road accidents. The organisation also urged the authorities to determine the quality of the rickshaws and take initiatives for short-term training to the drivers. NCPSRR president Mohammad Shahid Mia and its general secretary Ashis Kumar Dey made the call in a statement on Sunday. Banned autorickshaw drivers’ protests bring Dhaka traffic to a standstill According to the statement of the civic organisation sent to the media, the movement of three-wheeled non-mechanised vehicles like battery-powered rickshaws on highways and long-distance roads is prohibited and extremely dangerous. Despite this, approximately 35-40 lakh battery operated rickshaws are plying across the country including Dhaka. Mentioning that these small vehicle drivers have no training, the statement said, they drive recklessly as they have no idea about traffic laws. As minor accidents are happening every day in different places, it is also causing serious disruption in the movement of pedestrians and road crossings. The statement said, despite being illegal and risky, battery-run rickshaws cannot be banned now. Because, at least 1.5 crore people depend directly and indirectly on it. 78 battery-run autorickshaws seized during DNCC drive at Mirpur Therefore, the movement of battery-powered rickshaws on the main roads of the large cities should be strictly controlled, the drivers should be given immediate short-term training and the infrastructure of such rickshaws should be strongly improved to avoid accidents, the leaders said.

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.

Bangladesh saw 443 road accidents in October this year, claiming the lives of 469 people and injuring 837 others. Among the deceased were 74 women and 66 children. A total of 208 motorbike-related accidents led to 196 deaths, comprising 41.79% of the total fatalities, with a motorbike accident rate of 46.95%. Besides, 102 pedestrians (21.74%) and 67 vehicle operators or their assistants (14.28%) were killed. During the same period, four maritime accidents caused seven deaths and injured three, while 21 railway incidents resulted in 18 fatalities and six injuries. The Road Safety Foundation compiled this report based on data from nine national dailies, seven online news portals, various electronic media, and its internal records. Fatalities by Vehicle Type The breakdown of fatalities by vehicle reveals that motorbike riders or passengers accounted for 196 deaths (41.79%), bus passengers for 31 (6.60%), and occupants of trucks, covered vans, pickups, trolleys, or lorries for 20 (4.26%). Private car, microbus, and ambulance passengers comprised 12 (2.55%), while passengers on three-wheelers (e.g., autorickshaws, CNGs, tomtoms) accounted for 94 deaths (20.04%). Locally manufactured vehicles (such as Nosimon and Korimon) were involved in 10 deaths (2.13%), with bicyclists and rickshaw passengers making up 4 deaths (0.85%). Accident Location by Road Type The Road Safety Foundation’s analysis shows that 173 (39.05%) of the incidents occurred on national highways, 162 (36.56%) on regional roads, 64 (14.44%) on rural roads, and 38 (8.57%) in urban areas, with six accidents (1.35%) at other unspecified locations. Types of Accidents The incidents included 112 (25.28%) head-on collisions, 171 (38.60%) incidents caused by loss of control, 104 (23.47%) incidents of pedestrians being struck, 42 (9.48%) rear-end collisions, and 14 (3.16%) caused by other factors. Vehicles Involved in Accidents Of the vehicles involved, trucks, covered vans, pickups, tractors, trolleys, lorries, and drum trucks were involved in 25.48% of accidents. Read: 426 deaths, 813 injuries in road crashes during September, says Road Safety Foundation Microbuses, private cars, ambulances, and jeeps accounted for 4.39%, passenger buses for 14.48%, motorbikes for 28.07%, and three-wheelers (such as auto-rickshaws) for 17.59%. Locally manufactured vehicles represented 5.43%, bicycles and rickshaws made up 1.81%, and unidentified vehicles were involved in 2.71%. Number of Vehicles Involved A total of 773 vehicles were involved, including 112 buses, 119 trucks, 22 covered vans, 25 pickups, seven tractors, six trolleys, nine lorries, eight drum trucks, one 18-wheeler lorry, 12 microbuses, 14 private cars, five ambulances, three jeeps, 217 motorbikes, 136 three-wheelers, 42 locally manufactured vehicles, 14 bicycles or rickshaws, and 21 unidentified vehicles. Time of Day Analysis An analysis of the time distribution indicates that 5.41% of accidents occurred at dawn, 26.63% in the morning, 16.93% in the afternoon, 15.57% in the evening, 9.25% around dusk, and 26.18% at night. Accident Statistics by Division The divisional statistics reveal that Dhaka Division recorded 29.57% of the accidents and 30.70% of the fatalities. Rajshahi Division accounted for 15.34% of accidents and 13.85% of fatalities, while Chattogram Division saw 17.83% of accidents and 17.27% of deaths. Khulna Division had 9% of accidents and 8.10% of deaths, while Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh divisions experienced lower figures ranging from 4.06% to 10.83% for accidents and 5.33% to 11.08% for fatalities. The highest number of accidents occurred in Dhaka Division, with 131 incidents resulting in 144 fatalities. The fewest accidents occurred in Sylhet Division, with 22 incidents and 24 deaths. Within individual districts, Chattogram saw the highest numbers, with 34 accidents and 39 deaths, while Magura, Jhalokathi, Barguna, and Panchagarh reported accidents without any fatalities. In the capital, Dhaka, 29 road accidents resulted in 21 deaths and 34 injuries. Read more: 467 lives lost on roads across country in Nov: Road Safety Foundation Occupational Analysis of Deceased According to published media data, the fatalities included three police officers, two Ansar members, nine teachers from various educational institutions, and four journalists. The Road Safety Foundation urged all stakeholders to consider these statistics and take immediate steps to improve road safety.

Bangladesh saw 60,980 road accidents, leading to 105,338 deaths and 149,847 injuries, between 2014 and September 2024, said the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity on Monday. The Association came up with the shocking statistics during a discussion meeting held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, marking the National Road Safety Day 2024. Association's Secretary-General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, attributed the rampant road accidents and chaos in the transport sector to the mismanagement of the Ministry of Road Transport over the past 11 years. He said the road transport sector in Bangladesh witnessed severe corruption, chaos, extortion and mismanagement during the past decade under the Awami League's rule. Mozammel Haque specifically pointed out that during Obaidul Quader’s tenure as the minister, lawlessness, irregularities, corruption and extortion in the transport sector increased manifold. Even after the change of government following the student and public protests, the Ministry of Road Transport and policymakers at the BRTA have continued the fascist practices that plagued the previous regime. Read: Road accidents claim 498 lives in Sept: Jatri Kalyan Samity During the event, he said, "No effective measures have been taken to reduce passenger fares or establish order in the roads. To resolve the crisis in the transport sector, comprehensive reforms are needed, and for this, it is essential to form a reform commission for the transport sector." The grim statistics were further elaborated by Mozammel Haque, who said that over the past 11 years, 88,127 vehicles were involved in road accidents, including 20,549 trucks, pickups, and lorries, 20,124 motorcycles, and 15,301 buses. He said accidents occurred on national highways (31.76%), regional highways (37.59%), and feeder roads (22.54%). Haque also mentioned that the association has faced pressure from the Awami League government when publishing their road accident reports. Read more: 35,384 killed in road, railway, waterway accidents since 2019 He alleged that they were subjected to lawsuits, attacks, and harassment for exposing the grim reality of road accidents under the current regime.

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.  

Five people including four members of a family were killed in separate road accidents in Mirsarai and Hathazari upazilas of Chattogram on Tuesday, In Mirsarai, a truck crashed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in the Khoiyachhora area, leaving all its four passengers, including a child, dead on the spot when they were on their way to attend an event in Sitakunda. The auto-rickshaw got smashed and truck fell into a roadside ditch after the crash, said police and witnesses. 20 dead, 24 injured in Sylhet division road accidents in Sept The deceased were identified as Kajol Rekha, Nurjahan, Shirina, and 7-month-old infant Nihat. Sohel Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Jorarganj Highway Police Station, said they went to spot upon receiving news of the accident and recovered the bodies. In a separate incident in Hathazari upazila, Mohammad Azwad Mahin, a madrasha student, was killed after being hit by a speeding bus on the Chittagong-Khagrachhari road. Following the accident, fellow madrasa students and local residents blocked the road in protest. Police later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

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.