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The holy Eid-ul-Azha is knocking on the door. The excitement of returning home grips millions of us. Families are busy making plans, saving money, and preparing to share blessings with loved ones. Yet, beneath this festive joy lies a chilling question: Are we personally aware of, and truly prepared for, the safety challenges on our roads?
Every year, the journey home, which should be a joyous one, becomes a tragedy for many families. Our own carelessness, risky driving, and poor management make the roads extremely dangerous. Our over-busy and erratic habits turn our journey into a death trap.
According to a report by the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association, the number of deaths in road accidents increased significantly between 2024 and 2025.
In 2025 alone, 9,111 people were killed, and 14,812 were injured in 6,729 accidents. Most of these were motorcycle accidents. Even during the Eid rush of 2024, more than 280 people lost their lives. These statistics suggest that getting a bus or train ticket is no longer a challenge; the real concern is getting home safely.
Police and other agencies hold meetings before Eid and promise to stop extortion, mugging, and harassment of cattle trucks. But if those are not enforced strictly, they become useless. It should be monitored with zero tolerance for violations.
We also need to select the high-risk areas. Last year's research shows below areas are critical :
- Dhaka-Tangail-Rangpur and Dhaka-Chattogram: 25 dangerous spots each - Dhaka-Sylhet: 21 spots
- Dhaka-Cox's Bazar: 8 spots
- Dhaka-Aricha & Dhaka-Mymensingh: 7 spots each
- Dhaka-Barishal: 1 spot
These spots, and if any others, are also found to be risky zones; this year needs extra attention, including all of them.
There is a possibility of rain this year. As a result, there is a natural reason for severe traffic congestion. As a result, police work may become difficult.
During the rainy season, roads are in poor condition, and slow-moving cattle trucks will further strain the highways. Therefore, it is very important for the local administration to actively stop the establishment of temporary cattle markets on or near the roads.
We should give up the habit that the government will fix all these. Passengers have to take care too. A few simple steps can make travel much safer and less stressful:
Advance planning
Book tickets 5–7 days in advance to avoid peak times. Last Eid, people travelling to Rangpur on May 30 nights were stuck for 20 hours instead of 12. Those who left on the morning of May 28 had a hassle-free journey.
Spreading out factory holidays: if all garment workers took leave at once, it would block roads, for example, the Gazipur road. If factories give holidays at different times rather than the same time, the rush will be reduced, and the journey will be smoother.
It is an important duty to check vehicles and safety as well. The fitness of all transport is an urgent issue. Tired drivers and overloading lead to deadly accidents.
All Motorcyclists should wear helmets, avoid riding at night, and keep their speed under control. BRTA data shows motorcycle accidents triple during Eid. Conscious passengers must avoid boarding overloaded trains or launches.
If you are a conscious citizen on the journey, pay special attention to children and older people. Keep them with your ID card and necessary phone numbers.
Careful with luggage. To avoid pickpockets, arrange your phone and money in separate pockets. Also, be careful around kids at the ferry and don't stand near the risky edges.
Keep light snacks, water, and any emergency medicines you and your family need, as you may be stuck in traffic for 10–12 hours.
Keep Highway Police (999) and the BRTA Hotline (106) saved on your phone as a precaution.
Transport owners should repair unfit vehicles and stop overcharging. On the other hand, as passengers, we must boycott unsafe vehicles and follow rules.
Eid is all about love, unity, and spending time together. But when a violent accident breaks that unity short, the joy of the holiday dies forever. A slogan like "A Safe Eid Journey" must mean something real, not just empty words. In the end, all it takes is a little patience and a bit of care from each of us. That small effort can make sure thousands of families return home to celebrate Eid with smiles, rather than tears.