During the Eid-ul-Azha travel period, Bangladesh witnessed 442 transport accidents that left 438 people dead and 1,340 injured, according to data released by the Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association at a press conference in Dhaka Reporters Unity. Between May 21 and June 4, a total of 394 road accidents caused 402 deaths and 1,294 injuries, while 31 rail accidents killed 23 people and 17 waterway accidents claimed 13 lives.

The report showed a 3.95 percent rise in road accidents, 3.07 percent increase in fatalities, and 9.47 percent rise in injuries compared to the previous year. Motorcycles accounted for 38.83 percent of all road accidents, with 159 deaths and 180 injuries. The majority of accidents occurred on national highways, and most were caused by head-on collisions or loss of control.

The association attributed the rise in accidents to poor road conditions, reckless driving, driver shortages, and unfit vehicles. It urged long-term reforms, including modernizing public transport, implementing technology-based traffic control, and ensuring proper driver training and vehicle fitness enforcement.