United News of Bangladesh

Road accidents across Bangladesh killed 404 people and injured 709 others in April, according to a monthly report by the Road Safety Foundation, highlighting persistent safety concerns on the country’s roads. The report documented 463 road crashes during the month. Among the deceased were 53 women and 48 children. Motorcycles remained the deadliest mode of transport, with 142 crashes causing 113 deaths, accounting for 27.97 percent of total fatalities. Pedestrians were also heavily affected, with 102 deaths, representing 25.24 percent of total fatalities. In addition, 46 drivers and helpers were killed, making up 11.38 percent. In the capital Dhaka, 36 road accidents resulted in 24 deaths and 67 injuries. Highways and regional roads most dangerous The analysis shows that 41.68 percent of accidents occurred on regional roads, while 36.28 percent took place on national highways. Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of accidents (109) and fatalities (102), while Sylhet Division had the lowest with 12 accidents and 12 deaths. Two trucks set on fire after trader killed in Rajshahi road accident Causes of accidents Loss of vehicle control was the leading cause, responsible for 194 accidents (41.90 percent). Head-on collisions caused 97 crashes (20.95 percent). Vehicle involvement and fatalities Motorcyclists and passengers accounted for the highest number of deaths (113). Three-wheeler passengers such as CNG auto-rickshaws and easy bikes followed with 61 deaths. Truck and covered van passengers accounted for 51 deaths, while bus passengers numbered 30. Private car and microbus passengers accounted for 24 deaths. The victims included professionals from various sectors, including teachers, journalists, police personnel, doctors, engineers, lawyers, NGO workers, businesspeople, students, and garment workers. A total of 49 students were killed in road accidents. Key causes and recommendations The Road Safety Foundation identified major causes of road crashes, including faulty vehicles and roads, speeding, reckless driving, unskilled drivers, poor traffic management, and weak enforcement of traffic laws. It also highlighted systemic issues such as unregulated working hours for drivers, unsafe mixing of slow and fast vehicles on highways, and rising motorcycle use among young riders. The organization recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council and strengthening key transport authorities along with stricter law enforcement and improved road safety awareness campaigns to reduce fatalities.

Malayalam film actor Santhosh K Nayar died in a road accident in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala early Tuesday. His car collided with a van in the early hours. His wife, who was travelling with him, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, reports NDTV. Santhosh K Nayar, who made his film debut with the 1982 movie Ithu Njangalude Katha, appeared in more than 100 films over his career. He was widely recognised for his roles portraying villains as well as comic characters. Born on November 12, 1960, in Thiruvananthapuram, he hailed from an educated family. His father, C N Kesavan Nair, was a retired headmaster, while his mother, P Rajalakshmiamma, was a retired teacher. During his college years, he was actively involved in politics. Although his sisters pursued careers in medicine as gynecologists, he chose acting as his profession. He also shared a close association with Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, as both studied at MG College. Santhosh pursued a degree in Mathematics, while Mohanlal studied Commerce. In interviews, he often recalled their college days, noting that despite being of similar age, Mohanlal became his senior after Santhosh temporarily left his studies to pursue engineering before completing his degree later. His final on-screen appearance was in Mohaniyattam, which is currently running in theatres. The film, released on April 10, serves as a sequel to Bharathanatyam and is set to stream on Netflix from May 8. Directed by Krishnadas Murali, the film follows the story of Sasidharan Nair’s family caught in a tense situation. The cast also includes Suraj Venjaramoodu, Vinay Forrt and Jagadish.  

A man was killed after being knocked down by a pickup van in the city’s Siddheswari area on Friday. The deceased was identified as Harun Or Rashid, 45, son of Tamij Uddin of Patka Kathalia area in Sadar upazila of Kishoreganj. He was a private car driver by profession. Harun was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 10:45am in a critical condition. He died while undergoing treatment at the One Stop Emergency Centre of the hospital’s Casualty Department. Private car owner Kazi Lutfor, who brought Harun to the hospital, said the victim was gossiping with some other drivers in front of their garage near Monwara Hospital while preparing to return to his residence at Tejgaon on completion of duty. Suddenly, a pickup van hit him violently, leaving him injured. Later, he died at hospital, he said. Police seized the pickup van and detained its driver.

A 65-year-old woman was killed when a truck knocked down her in Jatrabari area of the capital early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Amena Begum, a resident of Jatrabari area in Dhaka. She hailed from Sadar upazila of Chandpur district. The accident occurred around 2:30 am when the truck hit the woman when she was crossing the road in front of Jatrabari fish market, leaving her critically injured. Later, she was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors declared her dead, said Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp. Police seized the truck and arrest its driver.

Two people were killed and three others injured when a truck rammed into a battery-run auto-rickshaw on the Dhaka-Kuakata highway in Amtoli upazila of Barguna district on Tuesday night. The deceased were identified as Md Belal, 35, and Shaon, 35. The accident occurred around 8:30 pm in front of the Amtoli Fire Service Station when the truck crashed into the Mahishkata-bound battery-run auto-rickshaw carrying five passengers, leaving them injured. The injured were taken to Amtoli Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Belal dead and referred Shaon to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries after being admitted.

An unidentified 25-year-old man was killed in a road accident at Jatrabari in the capital early Thursday. Quoting witnesses, Sub-Inspector Md Irfan of Jatrabari Police Station said the victim was crossing the road near Asma Ali Pump around 2:30am when a speedy vehicle struck him, leaving him seriously injured. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 4:30am, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. The body has been sent to the hospital morgue for postmortem.

A 20-year-old man was killed in a road accident on the Daganbhuiyan-Feni regional highway in Daganbhuiyan upazila on Thursday night. Deceased Mohammad Antar, son of Ekramul Haque of Midda Bari under Charkankara union of Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila, was riding his motorcycle when the accident occurred. Locals said amid the fuel shortage in Companiganj, Antar left home in the afternoon to collect petrol from Feni for his motorcycle. On his way back, an unknown vehicle crashed into his bike in the Enayetbhuiyan area around 8:30pm, leaving him seriously injured. Locals took him to hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.  

A 60-year-old man was killed after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in the Azampur area of Uttara in the capital on Monday. The deceased was identified as Parosh Mia Bepari, son of Hamid Bepari from the Madhyanagar area under Bancharampur Upazila. He lived in a rented house in the Chalaban area of Uttara. Md Jamal Hossain, who took him to the hospital, said Parosh Mia worked as a day labourer. He was seriously injured after being hit by a speeding unidentified vehicle while crossing a road in the Azampur area under Uttara East Police Station around 10:30 am. Youth killed in Uttara road crash He was first taken to Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Government Hospital in Uttara. As his condition deteriorated, he was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 2:45 pm. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said the body has been kept at the hospital’s emergency department morgue. The matter has been informed to the concerned police station, he added.

Twelve people including a bride were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a microbus on the Khulna-Mongla highway at Belai Bridge in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district on Thursday. Authorities have not yet released their identities officially. All the deceased hailed from Koyra upazila of Khulna district. Among the deceased, ten were from the same family, including the bride. The accident occurred around 4:30pm when the bus of Bangladesh Navy collided head-on with a microbus carrying people returning from a wedding programme, leaving twelve people dead, said Md Hasan, sub-inspector of Katakhali Highway Police camp. Post-poll violence: Supporter of independent candidate killed in Bagerhat

Thakurgaon, Feb 22 (UNB) — Two people, including a woman, were killed in separate road accidents in Thakurgaon, police said on Sunday. In the first incident, a wheat-laden truck (Dhaka Metro-T 20-6550) heading towards Thakurgaon hit a pedestrian in Singiya village under Jagannathpur union in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila on Sunday morning. The victim, Rahima, 65, wife of Md Ruhul Amin of the same village, fell under the rear wheels of the truck and died on the spot, police said, quoting locals. Attack on Bauls near Thakurgaon court leaves 3 injured On information, police recovered the body. The truck, however, fled the scene after the accident. In a separate incident on Saturday afternoon, Monoranjan Barman of Matigara Sonahar village under Auliapur union in Sadar upazila was seriously injured when a motorcycle collided with his bicycle in the Piala Bazar area. He was taken to Thakurgaon 250-bed General Hospital, where he died at around 2am on Sunday. His body has been kept at the hospital morgue. Thakurgaon man commits suicide during video call with expatriate wife Mohammad Monir Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station said legal action is under way in connection with the two accidents.