Syed Shemul Parvez :
The roads of the country have tragically transformed into some of the most perilous death traps, casting a dark shadow over the nation’s populace.
Despite the concerted efforts of government authorities, the relentless onslaught of accidents seems impervious to mitigation, plunging the people into a perpetual state of dread.
The grim toll of human lives lost to road mishaps is staggering, with recent incidents further exacerbating the already dire situation.
On Tuesday, the country witnessed the heart-wrenching loss of at least 20 individuals, with 14 souls perishing in Faridpur and two in Mymensingh.
The toll of tragedy continued to mount, with the Eid vacation witnessing around 140 fatalities and countless others left maimed and scarred.
In the face of such harrowing statistics, the public’s exasperation is palpable, with many voicing profound disillusionment at the unabated carnage unfolding on the nation’s thoroughfares.
Despite considerable infrastructural advancements, the persistent spectre of death looms large, shattering the illusion of progress.
According to sources within passenger welfare bodies, the grim tally of the past five years paints a chilling picture: approximately 50,000 lives lost and over 70,000 individuals left grievously injured in road-related incidents.
The most recent calamity, a devastating collision between a bus and a pickup van in the Kanaipur area of Faridpur’s Sadar upazila, claimed the lives of 14 individuals, further underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address this pressing issue.
The most recent tragedy, a devastating collision between a bus and a pickup van in the Kanaipur area of Faridpur’s Sadar upazila, claimed the lives of 14 individuals, further underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address this pressing issue.
Among the deceased, five belonged to the same family with Farid Master of Faridpur’s Boalmari upazila, his daughter, his brother, his brother’s wife, and their child.
According to local accounts, all the deceased were passengers of the ill-fated pickup van, presumably returning to Dhaka after spending the Eid vacation with their loved ones.
Sources from the police and Fire Service revealed that the bus, belonging to ‘Unique Paribahan,’ was en route to Magura from Faridpur, while the pickup was bound for Dhaka with passengers after the Eid festivities.
Speaking on the tragic incident, Karimpur Highway Police Station OC Md Salauddin Chowdhury said, “At least 11 individuals lost their lives on the spot, with three more succumbing to their injuries at Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Among the seven initially rushed to the hospital, one passed away en route, with two more casualties occurring during treatment.”
Reflecting on broader statistics, a report released by Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) disclosed that over 7,902 individuals fell victim to 6,261 road accidents in the preceding year.
However, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority’s report presented a starkly different picture, citing 5,024 deaths in 5,425 accidents—a discrepancy of 2,878 fatalities.
The year 2022 witnessed the highest fatality count in the past five years, with 9,951 lives lost in road crashes. In 2021, a staggering toll of 6,284 individuals, including 927 women and 734 children, perished in 5,371 reported accidents nationwide.
The year 2020 saw 5,431 fatalities and 7,379 injuries, as reported by the Bangladesh Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
Meanwhile, in 2019, at least 7,855 lives were lost, with 13,330 others sustaining injuries in 5,516 road accidents across the country.
