Bangladesh’s roads remain perilous; 37,170 killed in 5 years

Road accidents in Bangladesh is still one of the leading causes of deaths as 37,170 people were killed in 26,902 accidents across the country in the last five years.

Besides, 82,758 people were injured in these accidents, according to a report released by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS), a passenger welfare body, on Wednesday, marking the National Roads Safety Day on October 22.

According to the report, 8,642 people were killed and 21,855 injured in 6,581 road accidents in 2015 alone.

In 2016, some 6,055 people were killed and 15,914 injured in 4,312 road accidents.

Besides, 7,397 people were killed and 16,193 injured in 4,979 accidents in 2,017 while 7,221 people were killed and 1,5466 were injured in 5514 accidents in 2018; and 7,855 people were killed and 13,330 injured in 5,516 accidents in 2019, the BJKS report said.

However, the association claimed that many reports of road accidents are not published in newspapers.

These figures show that the number of casualties in road accidents in Bangladesh is increasing due to reckless driving and dangerous overtaking, according to the report.

BJKS says that the desired development of roads is not yet visible even after the enactment of the Road Transport Act-2018.

Traffic chaos, anarchy, random fare hike and harassment of passengers still remain the same as before. As a result, passenger suffering, traffic jams and road accidents are increasing day by day, the report added.

Amid this chaotic situation on Bangladesh’s roads, BJKS considers it inappropriate to observe the National Roads Safety Day.

It said the road safety issue no longer be limited to just observing a particular day as there is a need for implementation of the election pledge of the government to ensure safe roads for people on an urgent basis.