Road accidents took 2,471 lives in six months

At least 2,471 people were killed and 5,975 injured in 2,353 road accidents across the country in the last six months, says a non-government organisation.

Of the deceased, 643 were women and children, the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR) said in a press statement.

The organisation prepared the report on the basis of the news reports of 22 national and 10 regional dailies, and eight online news portals and agencies.

Among the victims, highest 773 were passengers, while 701 were pedestrians. The third largest section of victims was motorcyclists with a toll of 548. Among the deceased pedestrians, 215 met with accidents while crossing roads carelessly.

The highest 756 trucks were involved in road accidents while the number of buses and motorcycles was 606 and 596 respectively.

The organisation said 248 people were killed and 717 injured in 211 accidents in 13 days (June 12 to June 24) during the Eid journeys this year.

On Friday, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, however, said at a press conference that 339 people were killed and 1,265 injured in 277 road accidents between June 11 and June 23.

But, the road transport and bridges ministry through a press statement on Sunday rejected the report of Jatri Kalyan Samity terming it “incorrect.”

The ministry said 152 people were killed and 355 injured in 103 road accidents between June 12 and June 24, reads the statement.

NCPSRR said most of the accidents took place due to carelessness and whimsical attitudes of the drivers of heavy vehicles including buses and trucks.

A lack of monitoring by the authorities, gradual increase in the number of small vehicles, unhealthy competition among drivers, and a lack of awareness of pedestrians are to blame for the accidents, the organisation said.