A total of 249 people lost their lives and 553 others were injured in 257 road accidents across Bangladesh during the 11-day Eid-ul-Fitr holiday period, according to a new report from the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
The RSF said the fatalities include 41 women and 59 children. Though various reports suggest over 2,000 people were injured nationwide during the holidays, RSF’s data—compiled from national and regional dailies and online media—confirmed 553 injuries.
Motorbike accidents proved to be the deadliest, with 114 crashes causing 106 fatalities, accounting for 42.57 percent of all deaths.
The report noted that 39 pedestrians (15.66 percent of total fatalities) and 32 drivers or their assistants (12.85 percent) were also among the dead.
Besides road accidents, six waterway incidents killed 13 and injured 15, while 17 railway accidents claimed 12 lives and injured eight others.
The types of vehicles involved included 19.11 percent buses, 13 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 7.35 percent private cars and microbuses, and 29.16 percent motorbikes. Local transport made up 21.56 percent, with 5.14 percent being battery-run three-wheelers, 2.69 percent bicycles, and 1.96 percent unidentified vehicles.
Accident distribution showed that 33.85 percent occurred on national highways, 38.13 percent on regional roads, and the remaining on rural and other roads.
Regionally, Dhaka division had the highest death toll with 28.79 percent of the total fatalities. Sylhet recorded the fewest, with just 2.72 percent. Within Dhaka city alone, 62 people were killed in 74 accidents.
The RSF’s findings highlight a critical need for improved road safety measures, especially during major holiday periods, to prevent such widespread tragedies.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
