Motorbike Fatalities Rise 10 Percent to 44 Percent of Total Road Deaths
Representative image generated by AI.
Compared to last year's Eid-ul-Adha, deaths in motorcycle accidents have increased by 10 percent this year. In the previous year, motorbike accidents accounted for 34 percent of total road fatalities. During the recently concluded Eid, out of all road accident deaths, 44 percent were victims of motorcycle accidents. More than half of those affected in motorbike accidents are aged between 14 and 20 years.
A total of 281 people died in 292 road accidents across the country. At least 837 more were injured in these accidents. Among the deceased are 34 women and 48 children. This data, covering the 13-day period from May 21 to June 2 before and after this year's Eid-ul-Adha, was released today, Thursday, by the Road Safety Foundation.
During this period, 8 people died and 15 were injured in 13 waterway accidents. Additionally, 17 people died and 9 were injured in 22 railway accidents.
The Foundation reports that 124 people died in 141 motorcycle accidents, accounting for 44.12 percent of total fatalities. The rate of motorcycle accidents is 48.28 percent. Thirty-seven pedestrians were killed in accidents, representing 13.16 percent of total deaths. Vehicle drivers and assistants accounted for 33 deaths, or 11.74 percent.
During the 12-day period before and after Eid-ul-Adha in 2025, 312 people died in 347 road accidents. Among these, 107 people died in 121 motorcycle accidents, which was 34.29 percent of total fatalities. The motorcycle accident rate was 34.87 percent. Forty-four pedestrians were killed, representing 14.10 percent of total deaths, and 51 vehicle drivers and assistants died, accounting for 16.34 percent.
Although the number of fatalities in road accidents decreased slightly compared to Eid-ul-Adha 2025, the Foundation's report clearly states that this rate does not indicate any improvement. It noted that no managerial improvements have occurred in the transport sector. Eleven pedestrians were killed due to reckless motorcycle riding by teenagers and young people. Among those affected in motorcycle accidents, 57 percent are aged between 14 and 20 years.
According to the Road Safety Foundation's observation and analysis, among the accidents, 33.21 percent occurred on national highways, 38.35 percent on regional roads, and 14.38 percent on rural roads. The highest number of accidents and fatalities occurred in Dhaka division, with 101 people losing their lives in 95 accidents. Sylhet division recorded the lowest, with 7 deaths in 9 accidents. As a single district, Faridpur saw the highest number of fatalities, with 28 deaths in 19 accidents.
The report identifies the main causes of accidents as defective vehicles, reckless speed, driver incompetence and physical/mental illness, unspecified wages and working hours, slow-moving vehicles on highways, reckless motorcycle riding by young people, the public's lack of knowledge and disregard for traffic laws, and weak traffic management.
