37,000 killed in last 5yrs: report

At least 37,170 people were killed and 82,758 injured in 26,902 road accidents in last five years since 2015, according to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.

The passenger welfare platform compiled the report based on newspaper reports, although most of the incidents of road crashes remained unreported, said a press release of the samity.

The platform revealed the information yesterday ahead of National Road Safety Day -- to be observed today.

As per the organisation, 8,642 people were killed in 6,581 road accidents in 2015 while 6,055 were killed in 4,312 crashes in 2016.

At least 7,397 were killed in 4,979 road accidents in 2017 while 7,221 were killed in 5,514 road crashes in 2018. In 2019, the country witnessed killing of 7,855 people in 5,516 road crashes.

In the press statement, the organisation demanded immediate implementation of the government's electoral pledge of ensuring road safety.

Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, secretary general of the samity, said thousands are getting killed in road crashes every year.

Instead of observing this day like any other national days, its observance will bring success if the message of road safety can be reached by taking initiatives such as debate and art competitions at educational institutions as well as discussions.

The organisation said although the government started implementation of much-talked about Road Transport Act-2018, no significant changes were seen in the roads, where anarchy and passenger harassment still prevail.