At least 390 people lost their lives and 1,182 were injured in 379 road accidents across Bangladesh during the 15-day Eid-ul-Azha travel period from May 31 to June 14.
Motorcycles were involved in the highest number of crashes, according to data presented by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS).
Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, Secretary General of JKS, revealed the figures during a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters` Unity on Monday.
The data was collected by the association’s Road Accident Monitoring Cell, covering the pre- and post-Eid rush.
Apart from road accidents, 25 fatalities and 12 injuries were reported in 25 train-related incidents, while 11 waterway accidents resulted in 12 deaths and six missing persons.
Compared to last year’s Eid-ul-Azha period, road accidents increased by 22.65%, fatalities by 16.7%, and injuries by 55.11%.
Motorcycles accounted for 134 accidents causing 147 deaths and 148 injuries, making up 35.35% of all road crashes during the festival travel period.
The report also found that 37.20% of accidents occurred on national highways, 28.23% on regional highways, and 28.49% on feeder roads.
In urban areas, 4.48% of accidents took place in Dhaka, with 0.79% each in Chattogram and at railway crossings.
Highlighting the causes, Mozammel Haque pointed to potholes caused by rain and excessive speeding on highways.
Many accidents happened post-Eid due to drivers operating vehicles without rest, leading to crashes into ditches or parked trucks.
He called for a minimum four-day government holiday before Eid to reduce travel congestion and accidents.
“Long-term planning is needed to manage Eid journeys effectively,” he said, emphasizing the importance of increasing public transport capacity, banning small vehicles from highways, ensuring skilled drivers, vehicle fitness, better roads, and law enforcement.
The report also shed light on widespread passenger suffering due to fare hikes and harassment, forcing many poor travelers to ride on bus roofs, train tops, or in open trucks.
JKS proposed 12 recommendations to curb accidents, including regulating motorcycle imports and registration, installing road signs and lighting on highways, training skilled drivers, implementing digital vehicle fitness systems, scrapping unfit vehicles, and extending the Eid holiday to at least four days. They also urged the government to waive VAT and income tax on driving trainees.
BUET Professor Armana Sabiha Haque, JKS Treasurer Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and Publicity Secretary Mohammad Alauddin Masud were among those present at the briefing.
