At least 376 people were killed and 1,500 others injured in road accidents across the country during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Both accidents and deaths witnessed a rising trend in this Eid-ul Fitr than the last year’s festival, according to a report published by Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
The statistics showed some 239 accidents took place where 314 people died in Eid-ul Fitr in 2021.
The report also said that some 283 road accidents took place in the last 14 days from April 25 to May 8.
Among the deceased, 38 were women and 51 children.
During the period, a total of 128 road crashes took place while the number of accidents involving motorcycles was the highest, according to RSF report.
Some 156 people died in those motorcycle crashes before and after Eid days, which is 41.48 per cent of the total deaths, said the report, released on Thursday.
Some 543 people were killed and 612 others injured in road accidents across the country in April this year.
The RSF prepared the report based on news published in nine national dailies, seven online news portals, and electronic media.
Road accidents also took the lives of 49 drivers and assistants.
Some 496 vehicles were responsible for the road accidents during the time, added the report.
The highest number of accidents took place in Dhaka division with the highest number of deaths. Some 106 people were killed in Dhaka division in 83 incidents, the report showed.
The lowest number of fatalities was reported in Sylhet division. A total of nine people were killed in seven accidents in the division.
Of the total, 132 accidents occurred on highways, 87 on regional roads, 41 on rural roads, and 23 on urban roads.
Besides, 19 were killed and three others injured in 17 incidents on railway tracks while five died from seven incidents on waterways in the period.
It attributed the road crashes to unfit vehicles, rash driving, lack of skill, mental and physical sickness, inadequate benefits for drivers, slow movement of vehicles on the highways, reckless bike ride by youths, improper traffic management system, and lack of awareness about traffic laws.
The RSF has also recommended increasing skilled drivers, strengthening the capability of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and enforcement of the existing laws to check road accidents in the country.
