At least 390 people were killed and 1,182 injured in 379 road accidents during the 15-day Eid-ul-Azha travel period across Bangladesh, according to a report by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS).
Motorcycles were involved in the highest number of crashes.
JKS Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury shared the findings at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday. The data, gathered by the organisation’s Road Accident Monitoring Cell, covered incidents between May 31 and June 14, during the rush surrounding Eid.
The report also noted 25 train-related incidents that caused 25 deaths and 12 injuries, while 11 waterway accidents resulted in 12 fatalities and six people reported missing. Compared to the previous Eid-ul-Azha period, the number of road accidents increased by 22.65%, deaths rose by 16.7%, and injuries jumped by 55.11%.
Motorcycles accounted for the most significant share of road crashes, with 134 accidents involving them resulting in 147 deaths and 148 injuries. Most accidents occurred on national highways, followed by feeder and regional roads. Urban areas such as Dhaka, Chattogram, and railway crossings also saw a small share of incidents.
Many of the crashes were linked to pothole-ridden highways caused by rain, reckless driving, and drivers operating vehicles for long hours without adequate rest, especially after Eid. Several accidents involved vehicles plunging into ditches or colliding with parked trucks.
The report also highlighted serious public suffering due to excessive fare collection, harassment, and a shortage of transport, which forced many low-income passengers to travel on rooftops of buses and trains or in unsafe vehicles like open trucks.
To address the recurring problems, Mozammel Haque urged the government to ensure a minimum of four days of public holidays before Eid to ease travel pressure. He emphasized the need for long-term planning, better management of public transport, trained drivers, improved road conditions, and the removal of unfit vehicles from highways. He also called for the elimination of VAT and income tax on driving trainees to encourage more skilled drivers in the system.
BUET Professor Armana Sabiha Haque, JKS Treasurer Mahmudul Hasan Russell, and publicity secretary Mohammad Alauddin Masud were present at the briefing.
