Road accidents in the country have increased by nearly 60 per cent during the last five years, and deaths from accidents rose by about 36 per cent. Besides, the number of injuries has increased by 123 per cent, according to the Road Safety Foundation's (RSF) annual report on road accidents 2025.
RSF Chairman Prof AI Mahbub Uddin Ahmed revealed the figures in a press briefing at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Saturday.
He said the RSF has prepared the findings on the basis of reports published in nine national dailies, seven online news portals, electronic media, and its own sources.
According to the RSF report, motorcycles make up 71 per cent of all motorised vehicles in the country, but their safety management remains weak. Motorcycles were the leading cause of accidents.
In 2025, 2,671 people died in 3,029 motorcycle accidents, accounting for 36.29 per cent of all road deaths. Most of the victims were young men aged 14 to 45 years.
As per the report, pedestrian deaths were also high. In 2025, 1,564 pedestrians died, representing 21.25 per cent of the total fatalities.
A total of 1,008 children were killed, nearly half as pedestrians. Deaths of children and pedestrian were higher on rural and regional roads due to unsafe road condition, lack of footover-bridges, and weak law enforcement.
Dhaka recorded the highest toll with 2,018 deaths in 2,139 accidents. In the capital, most accidents occurred at night, 41.56 per cent with heavy vehicles, posing major risks.
The report said the financial cost of road accidents in 2025 was estimated at over Tk 255 billion (Tk 25,550.85 crore). Including unreported cases, the loss could exceed 1.5 per cent of the GDP.
The RSF recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council, improving accountability of the BRTA, BRTC and DTCA, appointing experienced experts, using IoT technology for motorcycle safety, and making use of quality helmets mandatory.
Other suggestions included implementing road safety laws effectively, removing old vehicles, expanding drivers' training, improving their wages and health services, upgrading old and risky vehicles, building service roads for slow vehicles, conducting safety audits, rationalising bus routes, providing school and college buses, training officials on road safety, raising public awareness, appointing gatekeepers at all rail-crossings, setting up trauma care centres along highways, creating a unified transport ministry, and establishing a trust fund for accident victims.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
