3,608 people killed in road accidents in 10 months

Some 3,608 people, including 423 women and 465 children, have been killed and 7,786 others injured in 2,926 road accidents across Bangladesh in the last 10 months, said the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR). NCPSRR, a non-government organisation, revealed the information in its regular monthly survey and observation report on Wednesday. The accidents took place on highways and national, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and October 31, said the NCPSRR press release. The report was prepared on the basis of the reports published on 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies. According to the NCPSRR’s survey, the highest number of accidents and causalities occurred in February while the lowest number of mishaps and causalities took place in August. In February, 472 people, including 56 women and 58 children, lost lives in 372 accidents while 217 accidents killed 279 people, including 25 women and 31 children, in August. Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the national committee, said they identified nine vital reasons for the accidents and the observations including reckless driving and increase in low-speedy vehicles on the highways. “Lack of proper supervision and control of the authorities concerned and the lack of public awareness are the major reasons for high number of road mishaps,” he added Bangladesh government has planned to decrease the number of road accident by 2020.