The number of injured and killed in road accidents is increasing across the country. In the meantime, 367 people have been killed in 358 road accidents across the country in a total of 15 days before and after this year’s Eid journey. The number of injured is more than 1 thousand 500 people. In this regard, 1 thousand 674 people were killed and 4 thousand 765 were injured in road accidents during the Eid journey in the last 6 years.
This information was given in a press conference on “Publication and Review of Road Accident Reports on Eid Yatra” organized at the Road Safety Foundation office in Dhanmondi of the capital on Wednesday.
Chairman of Road Safety Foundation and Professor of Sociology Department of Dhaka University. AI Mahbub Uddin Ahmed presented these facts.
Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said that 194 people were killed and 402 injured in 146 accidents during the 14-day Eid journey in 2019. In 2020, 147 people were killed and 318 people were injured in 128 accidents during Eid Yatra in 12 days. In 2021, 314 people were killed and 291 people were injured in 239 accidents during the 14-day Eid journey. In 2022, 376 people were killed and 1 thousand 800 people were injured in 283 accidents during the 14-day Eid journey.
In addition, 285 people were killed and 454 injured in 240 accidents during the 14-day Eid journey in 2023.
In the press conference, Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said that 367 people were killed in 358 road accidents in the 15 days before and after Eid-ul-Fitr this year (April 4 to April 18). More than 1 thousand 500 people were injured. Among them, 454 people (although the number published in the media is 493) were admitted to the Dhaka National Orthopedic Hospital (Pangu Hospital) in the three days of Eid, most of whom were injured in motorcycle accidents. In this reality, the number of injured people in hospitals across the country will be more than 1500 in 15 days.
He said, 63 women and 74 children among 367 people killed in road accidents. Among these accidents, 156 people died in 183 motorcycle accidents, which is 42.50 percent of the total number of deaths. Motorcycle accident rate is 51.11 percent. 68 pedestrians were killed in the accident, which is 18.52 percent of the total casualties. 41 people, i.e. 11.17 percent, were killed by vehicle drivers and assistants.
At the same time, 7 people were killed and 8 injured in 3 boat accidents. 19 killed and 17 injured in 14 railway accidents.
According to the vehicle-wise figures, the vehicle-wise casualties are 156 motorcyclists and riders, 18 bus passengers, 26 truck-pickup-covered van-tractor riders, 28 private car-microbus-pajero jeep riders, three-wheelers. 58 passengers (easybike-CNG-autorickshaw-autovan), 9 passengers in locally made vehicles (Nasimon-Mahindra) and 4 bicycle-pedal rickshaw riders were killed.
Highlighting the department wise statistics of accidents, he said, accidents in Dhaka Division are 29.05 percent, fatalities are 30.79 percent, accidents are 13.40 percent in Rajshahi Division, fatalities are 11.71 percent, accidents are 14.52 percent in Chittagong Division, fatalities are 12.80 percent, Accidents in Khulna division 10.33 percent, casualties 9 percent, accidents in Barisal division 10.05 percent, casualties 12 decimals 26 percent, accidents in Sylhet division 6.42 percent, casualties 6 percent, accidents in Rangpur division 6.70 percent, casualties 7.35 percent and in Mymensingh division accidents occurred at 9.49 percent, fatalities at 10.08 percent.
Most accidents and fatalities occurred in Dhaka division. 113 people were killed in 104 accidents and 22 people were killed in the least 23 accidents in Sylhet division.
Stating that both road accidents and fatalities have increased during the Eid journey, he said that 285 people lost their lives in 240 accidents during Eid-ul-Fitr last year. 20.35 people were killed in an average of 17.14 accidents per day. And this year, 24.46 people were killed in an average of 23.86 accidents per day during Eid Yatra. According to this year, accidents have increased by 39.20 percent and fatalities have increased by 20.19 percent.
According to the Road Safety Foundation, the report has been prepared on the basis of 9 national dailies, 7 online news portals, electronic media and own information.
(Dhaka Times/24 April/MI/MR)
