At least 487 people were killed and 712 others injured in 439 road accidents throughout the country in February this year.
According to a report by Road Safety Foundation (RSF), released on Wednesday, a total of 96 people were killed in 183 motorcycle accidents across the country — 40.24 per cent of the total deaths.
Among the dead, 54 were women and 68 children, reports UNB.
Sixteen people were dead and seven were injured in nine waterways accidents while at least 14 people were killed and five were injured in 17 railway accidents during the same period, it said.
RSF prepared the report based on nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media information.
The report said, at least 108 pedestrians were killed in road accidents, which is 22.17 percent of the total deaths. Some 72 drivers and their assistants were killed, which is 14.78 percent of the total deaths.
According to RSF's observation and analysis, the highest number 168 (38.26 per cent) of the accidents occurred on national highways, 177 (40.31 per cent) on regional roads, 61 (13.89 per cent) on rural roads and 29 (6.60 per cent) on urban roads.
On the other hand, the highest 201 (45.78 per cent) among the total accidents occurred due to losing control over the wheel, 68 (15.48 per cent) due to collision, 112 accidents (25.51 per cent) happened due to pushing or running over pedestrians, 47 incidents (10.70 per cent) involved hitting the rear side of vehicles and 11 (2. 50 per cent) occurred due to other reasons.
Dhaka division had the highest number of accidents and deaths, with 24.84 per cent of the deaths; Rajshahi division with 19.71 per cent deaths; Chattogram division with 18.89 per cent; while Khulna division with 9.85 per cent deaths, the report said.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul