Dhaka, Aug 2026 : At least 416 people were killed and another 629 injured in 458 road accidents across Bangladesh in July, highlighting the country’s continuing road safety crisis, with reckless driving, poor road conditions and weak enforcement of traffic laws remaining major concerns, local media reported, citing a Road Safety Foundation (RSF) report.
The RSF said the fatalities included 57 women and 48 children, underscoring the severe impact of road crashes on families and communities across the country. The figures point to the persistent risks faced by vulnerable road users, particularly pedestrians, motorcycle riders and passengers.
Motorcycles emerged as the deadliest mode of transport during the month. According to the report, 159 motorcycle-related crashes claimed the lives of 138 riders and passengers. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 34.71 per cent of all reported road crashes, while motorcycle-related deaths represented 33.17 per cent of the total fatalities.
Pedestrians also accounted for a significant share of the casualties. The RSF recorded 106 pedestrian deaths, representing 25.48 per cent of all fatalities in July. The toll also included 51 drivers and transport assistants, who accounted for 12.25 per cent of the overall deaths.
National highways recorded the highest number of accidents, with 169 crashes, or 36.89 per cent of the total. Regional roads followed with 155 accidents, accounting for 33.84 per cent. Urban roads witnessed 66 crashes, while 61 accidents were reported on rural roads. Seven other accidents occurred at unspecified locations.
Among Bangladesh’s eight administrative divisions, Dhaka recorded the highest number of accidents and fatalities. A total of 133 crashes in the division resulted in 125 deaths, accounting for nearly one-third of the country's overall road fatalities in July.
Chattogram registered the second-highest number of accidents and deaths, followed by Rajshahi and Rangpur. Barishal reported the lowest figures among the divisions, with 28 crashes claiming 24 lives. Within Dhaka city, 34 road accidents resulted in 18 deaths and left another 47 people injured during the month.
Road safety experts have repeatedly pointed to reckless driving, excessive speeding, inadequate driver training, unsafe motorcycles, poor road engineering and ineffective traffic management as key factors behind Bangladesh’s high road fatality rate.
The latest figures have renewed calls for stronger enforcement of traffic regulations, improved driver training, safer road infrastructure, stricter vehicle safety standards and greater public awareness to prevent avoidable deaths on Bangladesh’s roads.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
