There has been an unprecedented development in the road sector in Bangladesh in the last era. Several other Mega projects are underway to speed up the road communication system including the construction of Padma Bridge, Express Highway, Bangabandhu Tunnel. In order to avoid road accidents and reach the destination safely and quickly, the government has also implemented the project of flyover roads in several regions across the country including the capital. These projects have made people's communication systems easier by road.
However, despite the progress of the communication sector in the construction of so many roads, road accidents in the country are expected to decrease over time, but the death rate on the roads is not decreasing relatively at the end of the year. As a result, new policies may be introduced to restore order on the roads, especially motorcycles; easy bikes, auto rickshaws and other three wheeler vehicles will have strict guidelines.
According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) data, 5024 people were killed in 5 thousand 495 road accidents from January to December last year. The number of injured is also high.
Besides, according to the data of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity 7 thousand 992 people died in 6 thousand 261 road accidents in 2023. More than 10,000 were injured.
According to BRTA data, 70 percent of the accidents in the country are caused by motorcycles, easy bikes and three wheelers. The number of accidents and fatalities is mainly increasing in the country's illegal auto-rickshaws, CNG. Apart from this, there has been a significant increase in accidents due to reckless speeding of motorcycles.
As a result, the Ministry of Roads and Bridges has focused on bringing order to traffic on the roads and the Roads Division has already been instructed to issue new policies. Everyone is thinking that the new policy can come by next June.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that instructions have been given to the BRTA Secretary to provide motorcycle and easy bike policy, but there is no official notification from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.
He said that the rate of road accidents is increasing due to easy bikes. In case of a bus accident the death toll is less but in an easy bike accident all passengers lose their lives. Besides, accidents are increasing due to speeding motorcycles. The Secretary has given instructions from the ministry to implement the policy as soon as possible.
He also said that although Nasimon-Karimon movement was banned on 22 roads of the country, no one obeyed it and it was not implemented. In this case, district administration, local public representatives have some responsibility. Our highway police are less, but this directive has been somewhat delayed. The new policy may actually be phased in.