At least 488 people were killed, 1,850 injured and six others missing in 337 road, rail and waterways accidents during Eid-ul-Azha vacation, according to the Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association.
According to the statement of the association, at least 458 people were killed and 1,840 were injured in 309 road accidents across the country during the Eid holidays while at least 20 people died and four were injured in 22 railway accidents during the same period.
Presenting the findings compiled by the associations road accident monitoring cell at a press conference held at the Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday, its Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury said that on waterways, six accidents caused 10 deaths, six injuries, and six missing persons.
Comparing this years data with the previous Eid-ul-Azha, Mozammel said road accidents increased by 11.55 per cent, fatalities by 53.17per cent and injuries by 238.23per cent.
Motorcycles were identified as the most accident-prone vehicle, with 132 accidents resulting in 130 deaths and 599 injuries. These figures represent 42.71 per cent of total accidents, 28.38 per cent of total deaths, and 32.55 per cent of total injuries.
Road accidents during the period claimed the lives of 51 drivers, 11 transport workers, 48 pedestrians, 61 women, 24 children, 14 students, one army personnel, three teachers, two freedom fighters, and three political activists.
Mozammel attributed the reduced travel during this Eid, compared to previous years, to the high cost of goods and increased transport fares, resulting in 15 per cent to 20 per cent fewer travellers. Despite significant improvements in the condition of the countrys roads and highways over the last 15 years, the number of people travelling was less than expected.
Mozammel criticised the governments negligence in implementing strategic transportation planning, which has led to an increase in smaller vehicles and consequently, more accidents.
He noted that media reports do not reflect the exact number of accidents.
This year, the media reported 1,098 casualties, while 1,078 people were admitted to the Dhaka Orthopedic Hospital in just 14 days, he said, adding that the situation in the countrys 9,000 public and private hospitals is even worse.
According to the Passengers Welfare Association, despite the new road transport law coming into effect, road accidents have not decreased. A government audit is necessary to identify the reasons.
There is a lack of research on road safety, and the real culprits of road accidents are not being identified. Engineers responsible for road defects are not held accountable, he said.
Due to weak investigations and lengthy legal processes, the victims of road accidents are deprived of legal protection, preventing the government from reducing road accidents despite its good intentions, he said.
