320 killed in Eid trip, passenger welfare account unacceptable: BRTA

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has given an account of road accidents during the period of Eid Yatra during the 17 days before and after this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr. According to the organization’s calculations, 286 road accidents occurred in 17 days from April 4 to April 20 before and after Eid. 320 people were killed and 462 others were injured in these accidents.

According to BRTA’s calculations, there are about 17 accidents per day on average in these 17 days before and after Eid. During this period, on an average, 19 people were killed on the road and 27 others were injured. Compared to last year, this time of Eid Yatra, the death toll on the roads has increased by 18.75 percent.

BRTA Chairman Noor Mohammad Majumdar held a press conference on Sunday (April 21) and released these data on road accidents and fatalities.

Earlier yesterday (April 20) Yatri Kalyan Samiti held a press conference and disclosed the information about the accident and loss of life on the Eid trip. In that press conference, the secretary general of the association, Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said that 407 people were killed in 399 road accidents during the 15 days from April 4 to April 18, and another 1,398 people were injured.

The number of accidents and casualties in 15 days of Yatri Kalyan Samiti is much higher than the 17 days of road accidents and casualties reported by BRTA. According to BRTA, the data of about 17 accidents and about 19 deaths per day has come up, but according to the calculations of Yatri Kalyan Samity, more than 26 accidents have occurred on an average day, and more than 27 people have been killed on the roads on an average.

However, BRTA is not taking into account the statistics provided by the Passenger Welfare Association. Chairman of the organization Noor Mohammad Majumdar said, the information of the passenger welfare association is unacceptable.

Read more- 407 killed on road during Eid trip

BRTA in their review says that although the average number of deaths has increased this year, the average number of accidents has not increased compared to last year. Chairman of the organization said that it has been possible to present a congestion-free Eid journey through various activities taken by BRTA. However, two major road accidents have dimmed this success somewhat.

BRTA chairman said that the road accident at the toll plaza of Gabkhan Bridge in Faridpur Sadar and Jhalkathi has been investigated through the standing committee formed by the road transport and highways department consisting of the two district administrations, police department, ARI and BRTA. After the joint investigation, it was found that the documents of the vehicles involved in the two accidents were expired. As a result their registration has been temporarily suspended. A case has also been filed against them.

Highlighting the department wise accident data, BRTA Chairman said that 73 people were killed and 71 injured in 58 accidents in Dhaka Division. Apart from this, 47 people were killed and 108 injured in 47 accidents in Chittagong Division, 43 killed and 34 injured in 38 accidents in Rajshahi Division, 31 killed and 43 injured in 29 accidents in Khulna Division, 34 killed and 47 injured in 25 accidents in Barisal Division, 17 people were killed and 24 injured in 14 accidents in Sylhet division, 20 people were killed and 20 injured in 19 accidents in Rangpur division and 30 people were killed and 58 injured in 24 accidents in Mymensingh division.

BRTA said in a press conference that 239 people were killed and 510 were injured in a total of 253 road accidents during the 15 days of Eid-ul-Fitr last year (April 15 to 29, 2023). In other words, last year also during this time of Eid, there were about 17 road accidents on average every day. That year, an average of 16 people were killed and 34 more injured per day.

Sarabangla/RF/TR