Online Desk :

As many as 708 people died and 2,426 were injured in 683 road accidents across the country in the month of April, said a report of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity. Besides, 47 people were killed and 36 were injured in 44 railway accidents while eight people were killed, 10 injured, and one is still missing in six waterway accidents, it said. The report was published on Wednesday analysing accident reports published in the country’s national and regional dailies and online media during the period and a press release in this regard signed by its secretary general was also issued.

A total of 763 people were killed and 2, 472 were injured in 733 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country. Besides, 274 people died and 328 others were injured in some 305 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 44.65 percent of the total accidents and 38.70 percent of the total fatalities. Dhaka division witnessed highest 155 road accidents with 179 fatalities and 305 injuries while Barishal witnessed the lowest 35 road accidents with as many deaths.

Among those killed in road accidents in April, 10 were members of law enforcement agencies,169 were drivers, 63 pedestrians, 58 transport workers, 46 students, six teachers, 119 women, 67 children, three journalists, two physicians, one lawyer, three engineers and eight activists of different political parties. Among the vehicles involved in the accidents were 34.71 percent motorbikes, 15.48 percent buses, 17.61 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 6.27 percent private cars, SUVs and microbuses, 5.97 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 13.15 percent battery-run human haulers and 6.78 percent three-wheeler vehicles, said the report.

Of the accidents, 35.28 percent occurred on national highways, 14.78 on regional roads and 42.45 percent on roads. Besides, 6.58 percent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 0.43 percent in Chattogram city and 0.43 percent on rail tracks, it added. The association blamed reckless driving, motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, lack of street lights, road marking or road sign, development of cracks and holes on highways during rainy season, movement of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules, unskilled drivers and helpers, collecting tolls and poor traffic management for the accidents and deaths.