What makes Dhaka-Mawa expressway so deadly
The nation watched in horror as footage emerged of the latest tragic accident on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway. On Friday morning, six lives were lost in a devastating chain collision when a bus rammed into a private car parked at a toll plaza. The bus's momentum then carried it into a motorcycle and a microbus, leaving the private car mangled and resulting in the deaths of five people, including women and children, on the spot, with another succumbing later. Five others were injured.
This incident followed closely on the heels of two other deadly accidents on the same expressway. On Sunday morning, dense fog contributed to a 10-vehicle pile-up involving a bus, truck, private car, pickup van, and covered van in the Hasara area of Sholaghar, Sreenagar upazila.
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The very next day, Panna Banik, 35, travelling with family in a private car, was killed in yet another collision when a covered van hit their vehicle.
The numbers paint a grim picture. According to the Sreenagar Fire Service, 63 accidents occurred on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway between December 2022 and December 2023.
These accidents resulted in 16 deaths and left 80 people injured. However, the actual casualty count could be higher, as some victims reportedly leave accident sites before emergency services arrive.
The 55-kilometre Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga Expressway was designed as a symbol of modern infrastructure, constructed at a cost of £11,000 crore. It aimed to ensure safe and rapid transit, connecting Dhaka to Faridpur in record time.
Yet, despite the smooth surface and reduced travel time, accidents have surged.
Experts and officials are now scrutinising the factors behind this troubling trend.
Dr AKM Aktharuzzaman Bosunia, superintendent of Police for the Gazipur region of Highway Police, said, "Earlier, serious accidents were less frequent. Now, drivers speed recklessly on these well-paved roads, leading to more accidents."
Efforts to curb speeding, such as speed gun monitoring and case filings, face limitations.
"If everyone is speeding, how many cases can we file?" he asked rhetorically.
Manpower shortages exacerbate the problem. The highway police operate only two patrol teams on the expressway, which, according to Bosunia, are insufficient.
While public awareness campaigns, including microphone announcements at toll plazas and leaflet distribution, are ongoing, these measures alone cannot address the root causes, he added.
Dr Md Asif Raihan, associate professor at Buet's Accident Research Institute, said, "No accident occurs due to a single factor. It is a systemic failure involving road conditions, vehicle maintenance, and user behaviour."
For instance, fog-related accidents could be mitigated with improved lighting, clearer pavement markings, and adjustable speed limits tailored to specific sections of the expressway.
He also advocated for modernising toll collection systems.
"Replacing manual toll collection with automatic systems would reduce congestion at toll plazas, thereby minimising the risk of collisions," Raihan said.
Experts said unhealthy competition among drivers and negligence further compound the risks.
Bosunia said these behavioural issues are the primary culprits. "Improper road markings or design flaws are not the main problems, it's the recklessness and lack of awareness among drivers," he said.
Efforts to educate drivers have been initiated, but changing entrenched habits remains a formidable challenge, he added.
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