7,364 students killed in road mishaps in 7.5 years
Representational image. Collected.
The number of student fatalities in road accidents in the country has reached an extremely alarming level. Over the past seven and a half years, from 2019 to June 2026, a total of 7,364 students have lost their lives in road accidents across the country. This accounts for 15.11 percent of the total road fatalities during this period. During the same time, a total of 48,713 people died in road accidents.
This concerning information was disclosed in a press release signed by Saidur Rahman, Executive Director of the Road Safety Foundation, today (Tuesday).
An age-based analysis of the students killed in road accidents reveals that 3,328 students (45.19%) aged 5 to 17 years—encompassing school and madrasa students—lost their lives. Meanwhile, 4,036 students (54.80%) aged 18 to 25 years—college and university students—died in such accidents.
An analysis of the types of accidents involving students shows: 1,923 students (26.11%) died as pedestrians after being hit or crushed by vehicles, 927 students (12.58%) died as passengers of vehicles, 3,841 students (52.15%) died as motorcycle riders or passengers, 519 students (7.04%) died as bicycle or rickshaw passengers, 154 students (2.09%) died after their scarves or clothing got caught in auto-rickshaw wheels.
A breakdown by road type shows that the highest number of student fatalities occurred on regional roads, with 2,149 students (29.18%) losing their lives there. Additionally: 1,947 students (26.43%) died on rural roads, 1,786 students (24.25%) died on city roads, 1,482 students (20.12%) died on highways.
Looking specifically at pedestrian deaths by road type:
726 students (37.75%) died on rural roads.
537 students (27.92%) died on city roads.
409 students (21.26%) died on regional roads.
251 students (13.05%) died on national highways.
The analysis of accident patterns reveals that children aged 5 to 12 years primarily fell victim to accidents on rural roads while going to or returning from school, or while playing near their homes—often hit by auto-rickshaws, motorcycles, or goods-carrying vehicles. On the other hand, students aged 13 to 25 years predominantly lost their lives in motorcycle accidents on regional roads and highways.
Additionally, student cyclists are losing their lives after being hit by three-wheelers and unsafe goods vehicles, while tragic deaths are occurring due to scarves getting caught in auto-rickshaw wheels as a result of carelessness.
Beyond road fatalities, a further 1,237 students have died over the past seven and a half years after being crushed by trains while crossing railway lines carelessly or walking with headphones on.
The year-by-year statistics show:
2019: 693 students, 2020: 719 students, 2021: 936 students, 2022: 1,385 students, 2023: 1,153 students, 2024: 1,073 students, 2025: 1,014 students and until June 2026: 391 students, respectively.
The Road Safety Foundation has attributed these untimely deaths of students to faulty roads, unsafe vehicles, lack of awareness and training, a tendency toward reckless motorcycle riding promoted by social media, non-compliance with traffic laws, and an unhealthy political culture.
To overcome this situation, the foundation has recommended: Organizing safety campaigns in educational institutions at least once a year, providing training to teachers, incorporating road safety-related topics in examinations, increasing media campaigns, strict enforcement of laws to prevent underage motorcycle riding and developing safe infrastructure around educational institutions.
