Over 1,380 Killed in Dhaka Road Crashes Since 2020, Safety Report Finds

Image: Collected

At least 1,384 people have lost their lives and 2,488 others have been injured in 1,849 road accidents across Dhaka between 2020 and July 2026, according to the Bangladesh Road Safety Foundation (RSF), with pedestrians and motorcyclists accounting for more than 80 percent of all fatalities.

The report shows that among those killed, 1,034 were men, 219 were women and 131 were children.

Pedestrians were the most affected group, making up 592 deaths, or 42.77 percent of the total fatalities. Motorcyclists accounted for another 536 deaths, representing 38.72 percent, while 256 drivers and passengers of buses, rickshaws, CNG-run auto-rickshaws and other vehicles also died in road crashes.

The analysis found that road accidents were most deadly at night, when 519 people, or 37.5 percent of the victims, were killed. Morning hours recorded 258 deaths, followed by the afternoon with 195, evening with 174, dawn with 142 and nightfall with 96 fatalities.

Heavy vehicles, including trucks, covered vans, pickup trucks, tankers and garbage trucks, were involved in 33.25 percent of the accidents. Motorcycles accounted for 26 percent, buses for 21.75 percent, auto-rickshaws, CNG-run vehicles and legunas for 12.73 percent, while private cars, microbuses and jeeps were involved in 6.25 percent of the crashes.

According to the report, the absence of bypass roads forces heavy goods vehicles to pass through the capital between 10:00 pm and dawn, often at high speed, increasing risks for pedestrians crossing roads.

The study also noted that prolonged traffic congestion contributes to impatient and aggressive driving, further increasing the likelihood of road accidents.

The report attributed the high number of crashes to insufficient road capacity compared with the growing number of vehicles, mixed movement of slow- and high-speed traffic on the same roads, encroached footpaths, poorly located or unusable footbridges, and a lack of awareness among road users.

Jatrabari, Demra, Mohammadpur, Kuril, Bishwa Road and Airport Road were identified as the city's major accident-prone areas.

The RSF recommended introducing company-based bus services through route rationalisation to improve transport discipline. It also called for stronger coordination among the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation, Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority, the two city corporations and traffic police to implement comprehensive road safety measures.

Source: New Age