United News of Bangladesh

As many as 441 people including 63 children were killed and 1,128 others injured in 486 road accidents across the country in October, according to a report of Road Safety Foundation (RSF). Dhaka division recorded the highest number of accidents at 121, resulting in 112 deaths, the RSF report released on Wednesday said. The report noted that the number of fatalities and accidents rose compared to September, increasing by 24 deaths and 40 accidents respectively. The RSF prepared the report based on the reports of nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic media. Read more: RSF identifies 314 accident-prone upazilas across Bangladesh, 139 as highly risky Among the deceased, 137 people died in 192 motorbike accidents, accounting for 31.06% of total fatalities though this figure was six fewer than in the previous month. The deceased also included 98 pedestrians, 56 drivers and their assistants. Besides, nine waterways accidents claimed at least 11 lives with four missing. Besides, 43  people were killed and 12 others injured in 46 accidents involving trains across Bangladesh last month. Read more: Three killed in Ctg motorcycle accidents  Of the total accidents, 166 accidents occurred on the national highways, 148 on regional roads, 81 on rural roads and 87 on city roads, said the report. According to the report, 24.89% accidents occurred in Dhaka division, 11.52% in Rajshahi, 21.39% in Chattogram, 13.16% in Khulna, 6.37% in Barishal, 5.34% in Sylhet, 11.31% in Rangpur and 5.96% in Mymensingh division. Sylhet division saw 26 accidents with lowest 24 deaths during the same period, said the report. The RSF identified several key factors behind the rise in road accidents including faulty vehicles, reckless driving, drivers’ incompetence or illness, unsettled wages and working hours, low-speed traffic on highways, risky motorcycling by youth, frequent violation of traffic rules, poor traffic management, inefficiency of the BRTA, and extortion in the transport sector. The RSF urged the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to improve road safety across the country. Read more: 428 lives lost on roads in August in Bangladesh: RSF

With speeding vehicles, reckless driving and weak traffic enforcement turning roads into perilous stretches, Bangladesh’s rapid urbanisation — most evident in the chaotic streets of Dhaka — has made road safety a growing national concern. Although Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems (AES) promises stricter monitoring, faster penalties, and more disciplined roads and many countries have already embraced such systems with proven results Bangladesh is only beginning to test the technology. As part of the pilot project, an automated case system targeting speed control has been introduced on the Dhaka Elevated Expressway with video-based enforcement quietly operational since the first week of July this year. During a visit to the expressway, vehicles were found generally adhering to the speed limits and traffic rules. Drivers appeared more cautious under the new monitoring system. Ripon, a private car owner, said, “Driving violating the speed limit can bring hassle as the cameras are recording everything. It is a very good initiative, as it will help drivers avoid unnecessary competition on the roads. Driving on the expressway feels safer than before.” Officials at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said the plan includes installing red-light cameras, speed detectors, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, and AI-powered monitoring tools at major intersections and in busy areas. “Manual policing alone cannot manage Dhaka’s traffic anymore. Automated enforcement will help us penalise violations like speeding, wrong-lane driving, and red-light jumping in real time,” said a senior DMP traffic official requesting anonymity as the project is still under review. Globally, AES has shown impressive results. New York City recorded a 60% reduction in speeding near school zones, Singapore reported a 25% decrease in congestion after introducing electronic road pricing, and Dubai saw a 45% drop in road fatalities after adopting smart cameras. Dhaka commuters get no respite from traffic gridlocks In India, cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad use AI-enabled detection cameras, while an e-challan system issues instant SMS fines linked to vehicle registration. Bengaluru’s pilot AES saw traffic signal violations drop by 30% in its first year. More recently, AI-powered traffic cameras in Ho Chi Minh City recorded over 3,100 violations between September 1 and October 3, in an early test of the city’s automated enforcement system. In Bangladesh, the initiative will be integrated with the BRTA’s e-challan system to automatically issue digital fines. The Safe City Surveillance Hub, currently used mostly for crime monitoring, is expected to serve as the central command centre for the new system. Pilot installations are planned for high-risk areas including Farmgate, Shahbagh, Bijoy Sarani, Moghbazar, and Airport Road, where signal violations and speeding frequently contribute to congestion and accidents. “It’s good in theory, but I hope the system is transparent and tickets are issued correctly. Otherwise, it will create frustration,” said Mintu, a Dhaka-based car owner. “All laws are implemented for private car owners; it should be the same for commercial vehicles. Removing rickshaws and auto-rickshaws should be a priority for hassle-free driving,” he added. Bus driver Sumin Mia noted that many drivers are unaware of traffic rules adding that AES alone cannot solve the city’s traffic chaos without public awareness campaigns. According to DMP data, over 4,000 road crashes were reported in Dhaka last year, with speeding and signal violations accounting for nearly 40% of cases. The project faces challenges, including infrastructure upgrades, data privacy concerns, and public awareness. Authorities have not yet announced a formal launch date or budget but officials indicated the first phase of AES could roll out by mid-2026. Professor Dr Md Shamsul Hoque, Director of the Accident Research Institute (ARI) at BUET, said, “AES alone will not bring improvement unless the entire transport system is organised. Thousands of vehicles operate daily without registration. Developed countries have comprehensive databases, which makes enforcement easier. The automated system in Gulshan detects major violations daily but enforcement cannot be instant. The project should be reviewed if it does not function effectively.” Battery-run autorickshaws, slow-moving vehicles banned from Dhaka's main roads: DMP Md Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (Passengers’ Welfare Association), said, “Without transparency and accountability in institutions responsible for road safety, no real improvement is possible. Urgent reforms in this crucial sector are necessary; otherwise, people will continue to suffer in daily travel.” The Road Safety Foundation has identified a number of persistent risk factors behind rising road accidents across the country, calling for urgent improvements in infrastructure, traffic management and community behaviour. The organisation said faulty road design, poor maintenance and the absence of essential safety measures, including signs, lane markings, dividers and warning boards, remain major contributors to fatal crashes. RSF analysed around 37,000 road accidents using both media reports and the foundation’s own data and examined accident types and severity to classify areas according to risk and the findings were released on Saturday. High-speed traffic without proper enforcement and reckless movement of mixed vehicles on the same route also heighten the risk, it added. The organisation urged authorities to undertake comprehensive corrective measures at dangerous spots nationwide. These include redesigning risky road sections, ensuring proper maintenance, and installing necessary signage and lane separation facilities to guide traffic safely. It also stressed the need for stricter enforcement of speed control through technology, along with dedicated service lanes or dividers to separate different categories of vehicles. Read more: How to Get Traffic Updates in Dhaka: Useful Apps and Sources

Dhaka-Chattogram highway, a lifeline for the country’s trade and commerce, has turned into a death trap with 152 fatalities and 137 injuries recorded in 171 road crashes between January and December last year. Despite being one of the busiest highways in the country—stretching 163.7 kilometers from Chattogram’s Alongkar area to Dhaka’s Sayedabad—the highway lacks adequate safety measures to reduce accidents. Additional Deputy Inspector General of Cumilla Highway Range Highway Police Khairul Alam told UNB that 138 cases were filed over these accidents during the same period. Eighty-eight complaints were lodged over vehicles plying the highway and final reports of 50 complaints were submitted, he said. Highway police, responsible for maintaining discipline on the route, blamed reckless driving as the primary cause. Other contributing factors include drivers ignoring lane rules, overtaking dangerously, and speeding. Unplanned U-turn at Padua Bazar on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway turns into a death trap Alongside maintaining order, highway police are also tackling smuggling and drug trafficking, said Khairul Alam. Last year, they seized 235,600 kg of cannabis worth Tk 1,884,800 and recovered 20 bottles of Indian Phensedyl worth Tk 6,000. Besides, law enforcers confiscated 2,045 CNG-run autorickshaws, 1,356 battery-run autorickshaws, 1,634 rickshaws, and 21 other illegal vehicles from the highway. To improve efficiency, several initiatives have been taken, said DIG Khairul Alam. Previously, fines for traffic rules violations on the Dhaka-Chattogram and Cumilla-Sylhet highways could only be paid via United Commercial Bank’s mobile banking service, Upay. Now, violators can instantly deposit fines into the government treasury through 21 different mobile banking services, including bKash and Rocket, as well as various bank cards, he said. Economic Significance of Dhaka-Ctg Highway The Dhaka-Chattogram Highway serves as the primary artery connecting Dhaka with Chattogram, the country's largest port and commercial hub. This highway facilitates the transport of goods essential for industries such as garments, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, which rely heavily on Chattogram Port for exports and imports. How long will Bangladesh’s highways remain deadly? Some 80% of Bangladesh’s international trade flows through this route, underlining its critical importance for sustaining the nation’s economic growth. Without prompt action to ensure road safety the country’s economic momentum will be threatened, locals and businesspeople said.

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today (June 19, 2024) said that motorcycles and easy bikes are the leading causes of road accidents across the country. Quader made these remarks during an Eid greetings exchange at his ministry's conference room in the Secretariat at 11:30 am. "It's very unfortunate that lately, motorcycle accidents have become more frequent. Looking at the accident data, motorcycles account for the highest number of accidents, followed by easy bikes. Reckless driving also plays a significant role. We cannot ignore this. I urge the Secretary to expedite the formulation of a policy," he said. Jatri Kalyan Samity calls for end to Eid transport fare anarchy and road accidents The minister further mentioned that the lack of regulation for millions of three-wheelers and motorcycles is disrupting order on the roads, highlighting the urgent need for a policy.  "People's lives should come before livelihoods. In trying to protect livelihoods, lives are being put at risk. Those involved in electoral politics often support or endorse this. Easy bikes on highways receive a lot of support, sometimes even encouragement from behind the scenes. In Dhaka, our current regulations ensure that 98 percent of riders have helmets," the minister said. Three dead, one injured in separate road accidents in Kurigram, Gazipur Quader also noted that while the Eid journeys on roads have been relatively smooth, the return trips remain a concern. "The return journeys often receive less attention, which can lead to accidents. Therefore, we must focus on ensuring the safety of the return journeys as well." He emphasized that maintaining discipline on the roads will significantly reduce accidents. "We must prioritize discipline to reduce road accidents," Quader added. Road accidents claimed 708 lives in April: Jatri Kalyan Samity

In a distressing incident last night, reckless driving led to a multi-vehicle crash inside the Bangabandhu Tunnel in Chattogram, resulting in damage to at least five vehicles and injuring several people. The accident, occurring in one of the tunnel's lanes, underscores the growing concerns over traffic safety. Assistant Sub-Inspector Billal Hossain of the Karnaphuli Police Station, under the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, reported that the chain-reaction collision was initiated by a private car that lost control due to excessive speed. The vehicle's erratic maneuvering led to it colliding with nearby cars, impacting a total of three private cars and two microbuses. Read more: Out of control truck smashes into two other vehicles on Dhk-Ctg Highway; helper dead, 10 injured Following the accident, one of the injured was rushed to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for immediate medical attention, while others sought treatment at various hospitals. The precise number of individuals injured in the ordeal remains uncertain. In the aftermath of the collision, authorities seized all vehicles involved as part of their ongoing investigation into the incident. This accident adds to a troubling pattern of similar occurrences within the Bangabandhu Tunnel, which has seen seven to eight accidents in the mere four months following its inauguration on October 28 last year. The situation has been further complicated by a video that surfaced online, showcasing illegal car racing inside the tunnel immediately after its opening. The viral footage prompted legal action, with a case filed on November 1 against the individuals involved, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations within this crucial infrastructure. Read more: Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River: All you need to know

The four-member committee, formed to investigate the road accident that left 19 dead and 20 others injured in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila on March 19, mainly blamed the reckless driving and an unfit vehicle for the accident. The committee, led by Additional District Magistrate Pallab Kumar Hazra, submitted its report with a 14-point recommendation to Deputy Commissioner Kamal Uddin Biswas on Wednesday noon. The report also said that though the driver had a licence of running a medium-scale vehicle, he was running a heavy vehicle amid rain. Read more: Bus falls into ditch in Madaripur: Death toll now 19 Pallab Kumar said Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRAT), Gopalganj deferred registration of the Emad Paribahan’s bus due to desperate driving on November 17 past year and the vehicle’s lifetime expired on January 18 this year but it had been running on the roads violating rules.        He said they submitted the probe report with the 14-point recommendation to ward off any unexpected accident further. The recommendations included ensuring licences of drivers and valid documents of all vehicles before operating the vehicles on the highways, using seatbelts by drivers and passengers when the vehicles move on the highways, building the vehicles’ interior with soft objects, constructing guard rail on the both sides of expressways and keeping updated database of all vehicles running on the highways.  Another member of the probe committee, Moniruzzaman, an additional superintendent of the district police, said the number of sophisticated equipment of patrolling vehicles and manpower of the law enforcing agencies will have to be increased to keep vigilance on the vehicles on the expressways. He also suggested installing CCTV cameras, trackers and online monitoring systems to lessen the road mishaps. Moreover, the speed of vehicles will have to be kept under control at night, dawn and during adverse weather, he said. Earlier on March 19, at least 19 people were killed and 20 others were injured as a Dhaka-bound bus of Emad Paribahan from Khulna fell into a roadside ditch in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila.  Later, the district administration formed a four-member committee to investigate the incident.  

At least 13 people, including six members of a family, were killed, and 10 others were injured in road crashes on Friday in Manikganj and Tangail.

Police have pressed charges against two bus drivers in a case filed over the death of Government Titumir College student Rajib Hasan due to reckless driving in the capital in 2018.