390 killed in 15 days of Eid travel; motorbikes top crash list

At least 390 people were killed and 1,182 injured in 379 road accidents across the country during the 15-day Eid-ul-Azha travel period, with motorcycles being involved in the highest number of crashes.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS) Mozammel Haque Chowdhury read out the figures at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday.

Citing data collected by the association’s Road Accident Monitoring Cell, he said the accidents occurred between May 31 and June 14, covering the rush before and after the festival.

In addition to road accidents, 25 train-related incidents left 25 people dead and 12 injured while 11 waterway accidents caused 12 deaths and six missing persons. Compared to last year’s Eid-ul-Azha period, road accidents rose by 22.65%, fatalities by 16.7% and injuries by 55.11%.

Motorcycles once again topped the list of road accidents. This year, 134 motorcycle-related accidents caused 147 deaths and left 148 injured, accounting for 35.35% of all road crashes during the Eid travel period.

The report found that 37.20% of all road accidents occurred on national highways, 28.23% on regional highways and 28.49% on feeder roads.

In urban areas, 4.48% of accidents occurred in Dhaka, 0.79% in Chattogram, and another 0.79% at railway crossings.

To reduce accidents and travel-related suffering during Eid, Mozammel Haque called for a minimum of four days of government holiday before the festival.

“We need long-term planning for managing Eid journeys. Enhancing the capacity of public transport and management systems, removing small vehicles from highways, ensuring skilled drivers, fit vehicles, quality roads, and rule of law are all essential,” he said.

The association’s observations also noted that potholes caused by rain on highways contributed to many accidents, particularly where vehicles were speeding.

A significant number of crashes occurred post-Eid as drivers operated continuously without rest, often resulting in vehicles plunging into ditches or colliding with parked trucks.

The report also highlighted widespread public suffering due to excessive fare collection and passenger harassment. Many poor people were forced to travel on the roofs of buses and trains or in open trucks due to fare chaos in public transport.

JKS proposed 12 recommendations to curb accidents, including controlling the import and registration of motorcycles and battery-powered vehicles, installing road signs and lighting on highways, producing skilled drivers, implementing a digital fitness system, scrapping unfit vehicles, and ensuring a minimum four-day Eid holiday.

The organisation also urged the government to remove VAT and income tax on driving trainees.

Buet Professor Armana Sabiha Haque, JKS’s Association Treasurer Mahmudul Hasan Russell, publicity secretary Mohammad Alauddin Masud  were, among others, present at the briefing.