281 killed in road accidents countrywide in 13 days

At least 281 people were killed and 837 others injured in road accidents across Bangladesh during the 13-day period surrounding Eid-ul-Azha, according to the Road Safety Foundation.

The figures were disclosed in a press release signed by Saidur Rahman, executive director of the Road Safety Foundation, on Thursday (June 4).

The report said 292 road accidents occurred nationwide between May 21 and June 2, resulting in an average of 22 deaths per day.

Motorcycles accounted for a significant share of the casualties, with 141 motorcycle accidents claiming 124 lives during the period.

The report also noted that 37 pedestrians and 33 drivers and transport assistants were among those killed in road crashes.

Beyond road accidents, 13 waterway accidents left eight people dead and 15 injured, while 22 railway accidents claimed 17 lives and injured nine others.

A total of 507 vehicles were damaged in the reported crashes. The affected vehicles included 79 buses, 61 trucks, 11 covered vans, 24 pickup trucks, five trolleys, two lorries, seven drum trucks, one fire service vehicle, one gas-carrying lorry, five microbuses, 11 private cars, four ambulances, two Pajero jeeps, 157 motorcycles, 93 three-wheelers, 18 locally made vehicles such as Nasimon, Bhotbhoti and Mahindra, 12 rickshaws and bicycles, and 14 unidentified vehicles.

The Road Safety Foundation regularly compiles accident data from media reports and other available sources to monitor road safety trends across the country.