In yet another tragic reminder of Bangladesh’s persistent road safety crisis, a total of 417 people were killed and 682 injured in 446 road crashes across the country in September, according to a recent report by the Road Safety Foundation. Among the deceased were 63 women and 47 children.

The report, released on Saturday (4 October), was compiled based on data collected from national dailies, online news portals, electronic media, and the foundation’s own sources.

A Nation in Motion — and in Mourning

The data paints a harrowing picture of life on Bangladesh’s roads. Motorcycles alone accounted for 151 of the reported crashes, claiming 143 lives — representing 34.29 per cent of total fatalities. Pedestrians too remain perilously vulnerable, with 112 losing their lives last month, comprising 26.85 per cent of total deaths. Meanwhile, 56 drivers and their assistants — about 13.42 per cent of all victims — were killed in these incidents.

Notably, 49 students perished in road crashes during the same period, underscoring how deeply the nation’s young population continues to be affected by unsafe roads.

Where the Crashes Occurred

Of the total number of incidents, national highways saw the highest number of accidents, with 161 recorded crashes. Regional roads followed closely with 139, while 57 occurred on rural roads and 89 within urban areas.

When analysed by the type of collision, loss of control emerged as the leading cause, responsible for 171 incidents. Pedestrian knockdowns or runovers accounted for 119 cases, while 92 were head-on collisions and 58 involved rear-end crashes.

A Regional Breakdown

Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of fatalities, with 124 deaths from 128 accidents. In contrast, Barishal Division reported the lowest figures — 14 deaths from 16 incidents.

At the district level, Chattogram topped the list with 52 accidents resulting in 45 deaths. In the capital, 42 road crashes claimed 18 lives and left 33 others injured, exposing the capital’s continued struggle with traffic chaos despite regular drives and awareness efforts.

The Causes Behind the Crisis

The Road Safety Foundation identified several underlying factors contributing to these tragedies:

• Faulty vehicles and poorly maintained roads.

• Reckless speeding.

• Irresponsible driver behaviour, lack of skill, and physical or mental unfitness.

• Movement of slow-speed vehicles on highways.

• Weak traffic management and enforcement.

The organisation observed that most crashes occurred due to drivers losing control of vehicles at excessive speeds. To curb such incidents, it recommended implementing technology-based speed monitoring systems and offering motivational training programmes for drivers.

A Call for Collective Responsibility

The report further highlighted that the rising number of pedestrian fatalities is linked not only to reckless driving but also to the public’s growing lack of road awareness. To address this, the foundation urged the government to launch life-oriented awareness campaigns through both mainstream and social media.

Each number in the report tells a story of loss — a family mourning, a life cut short, a community shaken. As the country grapples with the human and economic costs of road crashes, the call for safer roads, stricter enforcement, and behavioural change grows louder with every passing month.

Until those calls translate into real reform, Bangladesh’s highways and city streets may continue to claim hundreds of lives each month — a silent, preventable tragedy unfolding in plain sight.