322 Killed in 315 Road Accidents During Eid Holidays: Jatri Kalyan Samiti

The Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in Bangladesh witnessed a significant number of road accidents, with 322 people losing their lives and 826 others injured, according to a report released by Jatri Kalyan Samiti, a passenger welfare organization.

At a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Wednesday, the General Secretary of Jatri Kalyan Samiti, Mohammad Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, presented the findings. The report covered the 15-day Eid vacation period from March 24 to April 7.

During this period, a total of 315 road accidents were recorded, leading to 322 fatalities and 826 injuries. Additionally, the report highlighted 21 railway accidents that claimed 20 lives and left eight others injured, as well as four accidents on waterways that caused 10 deaths and one injury. In total, the report identified 340 accidents across road, rail, and water transport, resulting in 352 deaths and 835 injuries.

Compared to the previous year’s Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, which saw 399 road accidents, 407 deaths, and 1,398 injuries, this year experienced a noticeable decrease in casualties and incidents. Road accidents dropped by 21.05%, fatalities decreased by 20.88%, and injuries fell by 40.41%.

Despite the decrease in accident numbers, Jatri Kalyan Samiti noted that the extended Eid holidays, while offering a more comfortable journey for many, still saw significant risks, especially due to the disorder in public transportation. Many passengers, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, resorted to traveling in hazardous conditions, such as atop buses, on train roofs, and in open trucks and cargo vehicles.

Motorcycle accidents were identified as a major contributor to the high toll. The report found that motorcycles were involved in 135 accidents, resulting in 151 deaths and 155 injuries. The total number of road accidents involving various vehicle types includes buses (16.56%), battery-operated rickshaws (14.86%), trucks and covered vans (14.43%), cars and microbuses (8.06%), human haulers (7.21%), and CNG-powered auto-rickshaws (6.58%).

The report also detailed the distribution of accidents by location. National highways accounted for the highest number of incidents (38.41%), followed by regional highways (21.26%) and feeder roads (34.60%). In Dhaka city, 3.49% of accidents occurred, while Chattogram city saw 0.63%, and 1.58% of accidents took place at rail crossings.

Jatri Kalyan Samiti commended the interim government’s decision to extend the holiday period, allowing people to travel home in stages, which contributed to a less stressful and safer journey. However, the organization continues to emphasize the need for reforms in public transportation and greater safety measures to prevent further loss of life.

In the tragic toll of road accidents, the victims included 70 drivers, 47 transport workers, 50 pedestrians, 60 women, 40 children, 33 students, 20 law enforcement officers, six teachers, four political party activists, and one journalist.

The report concluded by calling for immediate action to address the ongoing public transportation issues, with a focus on reducing accidents and protecting the lives of Bangladesh’s travelers.