At least 249 people were killed and over 2,000 injured in 257 road crashes across Bangladesh during the 11-day Eid-ul-Fitr travel period between March 26 and April 5, according to data compiled by the Road Safety Foundation.
RSF compiled the data based on nine national dailies, seven online news portals, electronic media, and its own sources.
The average daily death toll stood at 22.63.
While official injury figures stood at 553, the actual number is believed to exceed 2,000, the organization said.
The National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) in Dhaka alone admitted 571 road crash victims in just two days of Eid, most of whom were injured in motorcycle accidents, said RSF.
Among the deceased were 41 women and 59 children. In the capital Dhaka, 31 separate road accidents resulted in seven deaths and left 48 people injured during the Eid period.
Eid travel was relatively smoother this year compared to previous years, aided by favorable weather, longer holidays, better road conditions, and proactive government efforts. However, reports of irregular fare hikes on roads and waterways persisted, RSF said.
In 2023, 285 people were killed and 454 injured in 240 road crashes over 14 days around Eid-ul-Fitr, with an average of 20.35 deaths per day.
In 2024, the figure rose to 367 deaths and over 1,500 injuries in 358 crashes over 15 days, averaging 24.46 deaths per day.
In comparison, this year’s average daily death toll of 22.63 marks a 7.48% decrease from 2024, RSF mentioned.
Motorcycles responsible for over 42% of deaths
Motorcycles proved to be the deadliest mode of transport during the Eid rush. A total of 114 motorcycle-related accidents resulted in 106 deaths, making up 42.57% of the total fatalities. The accident rate involving motorcycles stood at 44.35%, it added.
In addition, 39 pedestrians (15.66%) were killed after being struck by vehicles, while 32 transport workers, including drivers and assistants (12.85%), also died during this period.
Though roadways saw the highest number of fatalities, other modes of transport were not spared. Six separate waterway accidents left 13 people dead and 15 injured, while 17 rail accidents caused 12 deaths and eight injuries.
High rate in highways
The breakdown of fatalities by vehicle type showed: 14 bus passengers (5.62%), 9 truck, pickup or tractor riders (3.61%), 18 private car or microbus passengers (7.22%), 49 three-wheeler passengers (19.67%), 10 from locally manufactured vehicles (4%), and 4 cyclists (1.6%).
Accident types included loss of control (43.96%), head-on collisions (26.45%), pedestrians hit (15.95%), rear-end crashes (9.33%), and other causes (4.28%).
Road Safety Foundation’s report categorized the accidents by road type. Of the total, 87 incidents (33.85%) occurred on national highways, 98 (38.13%) on regional roads, 43 (16.73%) on rural roads, and 29 (11.28%) on city streets. Regarding the nature of the accidents, the highest number 113 incidents (43.96%), were caused by vehicles losing control.
The analysis also shed light on the types and number of vehicles involved. Altogether, 408 vehicles were involved in the accidents: 78 buses, 29 trucks, 4 covered vans, 5 pickups, 6 tractors, 5 trolleys, 3 drum trucks, 1 tank lorry, 11 microbuses, 18 private cars, 1 jeep, 119 motorcycles, 88 three-wheelers, 21 locally made vehicles, 11 bicycles or rickshaws, and 8 unidentified vehicles.
In terms of timing, most accidents occurred in the afternoon and evening. Specifically, 3.11% happened at dawn, 23.34% in the morning, 21% around noon, 26.84% in the afternoon, 8.17% in the evening, and 17.50% at night.
Dhaka division had the most accidents and deaths. Divisional data shows that the Dhaka division witnessed the highest number of accidents and fatalities, 28.79% and 24.89%, respectively.
It was followed by Rajshahi (14.39% accidents, 14.45% fatalities), Chittagong (15.17% accidents, 20.88% fatalities), Khulna (15.95% accidents, 15.66% fatalities), Mymensingh (9.33% accidents, 8.43% fatalities), Rangpur (7.39% accidents, 7.63% fatalities), Barisal (6.22% accidents, 5.62% fatalities), and Sylhet (2.72% accidents, 2.40% fatalities).
Among individual districts, Chittagong recorded the highest number of deaths—31 people killed in 18 accidents. In contrast, the Sylhet division reported the lowest numbers, with only seven accidents resulting in six fatalities.
Despite a slightly lower death toll this year, the Road Safety Foundation warned that Bangladesh still lacks sufficient, safe, and quality public transportation to carry the millions who travel over just 4–5 days during Eid. As a result, many people resort to risky vehicles or overburdened transport services.
Saidur Rahman, executive director of Road Safety Foundation, said that reckless driving, especially among young and unlicensed motorcyclists, is a growing threat.
He added that many transport workers remain mentally unstable due to poor working conditions, including lack of formal contracts, fair wages, and fixed work hours. This instability often translates into unsafe behavior on the roads.
