7,397 people killed in road crashes in 2017

As many as 7,397 people have died in road accidents across Bangladesh last year according to a report, published yesterday. Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association (BPWA) in their annual report, said another 16,193 others were also injured in 4,979 road accidents throughout the year. The damage in these accidents is between 1.5 to 2% of the GDP, according to the report prepared by monitoring news reports on road crashes published in regional, national and online newspapers. At least 139 of the victims were killed after their scarf got caught in the wheels of vehicles, mostly three-wheelers or motorcycles in 2017. The actual number of deaths and injuries is believed to be higher. Executive Chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre, Hossain Zillur Rahman and noted economist at the programme said coordinated measures are needed for this number of accidents to go down. The organization at a press conference in Dhaka Reporters Unity identified 9 reasons for such crashes and also came up with a 10-point recommendation to curve such incidents. Kazi Md Saifun Newaz, an assistant professor at the ARI, Buet said widening roads would help decrease the number of accidents. He also suggested the roads be monitored better, by keeping slower vehicles off the main road and having active participation of both Highway and Traffic Police. Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury, secretary general of Bangladesh Passengers Welfare Association, read out a written statement at the press conference.