A significant disparity in road accident data reported by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) and the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has raised concerns, with BJKS urging the establishment of a comprehensive government initiative to address the inconsistency.
According to BJKS Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, while BRTA recorded only 7,495 injured patients in 2023, whereas, seven major hospitals treated 53,207 individuals for road accident injuries during the same period.
Speaking at a discussion meeting organized by BJKS, Mozammel emphasized the need for a more inclusive data bank that incorporates hospital information.
He highlighted the discrepancy, said: “BRTA's report, which claimed 5,024 deaths and 7,495 injuries in 5,495 road accidents, fell short of reflecting the actual number of injuries treated in hospitals nationwide.”
He provided hospital-specific data, revealing that in 2023, 14,357 were hospitalized at the National Orthopaedic Hospital (Pangu Hospital), 9,879 at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, 9,293 at Khulna Medical College Hospital, 4,784 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, 3,563 at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, 6,748 at Comilla Medical College Hospital, and 4,583 at Khanpur Hospital, Narayanganj.
The discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of the BRTA report and its collaboration with media agencies, district administration, and the police department.
Mozammel urged for a more robust and centralized approach to compile accurate road accident statistics, emphasizing the importance of primary data sources to inform government initiatives.
The speakers at the meeting attributed the rise in road accidents to the increased number of motorcycles, easybikes, battery-powered rickshaws, and other small vehicles.
They noted a doubling of vehicles without fitness over the last decade, contributing to chaos on the roads.
The proliferation of these vehicles, particularly by agricultural laborers seeking additional income, has resulted in a surge in accidents and fatalities.
In response, the speakers called for the development of a safe, cost-effective, and smart public transportation system while advocating for restrictions on small vehicles.
They underscored the importance of a comprehensive and accurate road accident data bank from primary sources, urging the government to take proactive measures to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets and enhance road safety.
