Road crashes, fatalities surge in three years

There has been witnessed an upward trend in road accidents and fatalities in the past three years, since when the country has been observing the Road Safety Day.

Like the two previous years, the day will be observed in the country today (Tuesday) as well to turn the spotlight on significance of the day.

Experts observed that not only road accidents and fatalities continue to increase but also a new trend of road accidents has been witnessed in the past three years due to lack of proper measures.

A data showed that rate of motorcycle accidents has also increased more than three times since 2016.

This year, however, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the first time will join observance of the day by attending a discussion meeting as the chief guest at Krishibid Institute Auditorium in the capital.

According to Bangladesh Passengers' Welfare Association, 7,221 people were killed and 15,466 injured in 5,514 road accidents in 2018.

The number of people killed in road accidents was 7,397 in 2017 while the number of those injured was 16,193.

A total of 6,055 people were killed and 15,914 injured in 6,055 road accidents in 2016.

A study of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has found that motorcycle accidents increased to 25 per cent in the first nine months of the current year from 19 per cent in 2018. The rate was only 8.0 per cent in 2016.

The data collected from newspapers showed that the bus which was responsible for more than 50 per cent road accidents in 2016 caused 21 per cent accidents in 2019. But the number of truck accidents has increased.

Forty-five per cent road accidents occurred involving buses and 22 per cent involving trucks in 2017 which were 23 and 22 per cent respectively in 2018 and 21 and 22 per cent in 2019.

In Dhaka district, rate of road accidents has also increased from 120 in 2016 to 215 till September 2019.

The number of road accidents recorded in 2018 was 292, according to ARI.

Passengers' Welfare Association Secretary General Mohammad Mozammel Haq Chowdhury has called for observing the day attaching proper importance to making all concerned aware about the matter through holding debates, art competition and photo exhibition.

And educational institutions and religious organizations can play due role in this regard.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges declared October 22 as the Road Safety Day involving different transport agencies to observe the day through holding awareness programmes.

The theme of the day this year is 'Accident no more as life is more important than livelihood'

On this occasion, a special supplement with the messages of the President, Prime Minister and Road Transport and Bridges Minister will be published.

A procession will be brought out from South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad at 7:30 am.

Later a discussion meeting will be held at KIA where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend as the chief guest.

Video shows and exhibitions will be held at the bus terminals along with distribution of leaflets, posters and stickers among transport owners, drivers, passengers and pedestrians to make them aware of the road safety issues.

Separate rallies, discussions and exhibitions will also be held at the district level.

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