Over 9,100 killed on roads last year

• 9,111 killed, 14,812 hurt in 6,729 road crashes last year
• Crashes up 6.94%, deaths 5.79%, injuries 14.87% from 2024
• Motorcycles involved in 37.04% of crashes; caused 38.46% of deaths
• 1,056 women and 622 children among the dead
• Annual economic loss estimated at Tk 60,000cr

The country witnessed higher road crashes and casualties last year compared to previous years, exposing poor road safety, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity said yesterday.

The organisation said at least 9,111 people were killed and 14,812 injured in 6,729 road crashes last year.

Compared to 2024, road crashes have increased by 6.94 percent, fatalities by 5.79 percent, and injuries by 14.87 percent last year, the Samity said in its report, which was prepared based on news reports.

In 2024, at least 8,543 people were killed and 12,608 injured in 6,359 road crashes across the country.

At least 2,983 people were killed and 2,219 injured in 2,493 motorcycle-related crashes last year, accounting for 37.04 percent of total crashes, 38.46 percent of deaths, and 14.98 percent of injuries, it said.

Among those killed were 1,691 drivers, 551 transport workers, 832 students, and 29 teachers. Of the total fatalities, 1,056 were women and 622 were children, it said.

Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, secretary general of the organisation, revealed the data at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

He said despite a change in power, road crashes and public suffering on roads have increased as relevant policies remain unchanged.

Due to rising traffic congestion and extortion, fares for goods and passenger transport have increased again, he alleged.

As the interim government has failed to reform the road transport sector, people's daily travel woes, road safety, and fare anarchy remain at the mercy of transport owners, he said.

He added that the country incurs financial losses of around Tk 60,000 crore annually due to road crashes and fatalities, stressing that strong political commitment is essential to prevent further loss of lives.

To reduce deaths and financial losses, he urged all political parties contesting the national election to include commitments to road safety and improved public transport in their election manifestos.

The organisation identified 22 causes of road crashes, including overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, unfit vehicles, driver incompetence, ignorance of traffic laws, and flaws in road construction.

It also made 12 recommendations to curb road crashes.

They include increasing the road safety budget, establishing a road safety wing under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, stopping the issuance of driving licences without completion of the mandatory 60-hour training at BRTA-approved driving schools, and ensuring good governance in the transport sector by ending monopolies of owners' associations, corruption, irregularities, and extortion.