Bangladesh's city line is changing rapidly, from expressways to metro rails- we have got it all covered. This rapid development, while contributing to faster, safer, and cheaper commutes, has led to a series of fatal accidents resulting primarily from structural failures and lack of accountability. These casualties, growing in number by each day, raise severe concerns regarding road safety in Bangladesh.
The most recent casualty occurred on October 26, 2025, when a large bearing pad fell from the elevated metro line onto the street, killing one pedestrian and injuring two in Farmgate, Dhaka. A similar incident had occurred, near the same area, on September 18, 2024, in which there had fortunately been no deaths. Another fatal occurrence took place on August 15, 2022, when a heavy girder fell from a crane onto a private car in Uttara and killed five members of the same family, including two children.
Not too long ago, in July 2025 a woman fell into an open drain in Tongi, Gazipur and her dead body was discovered 2 days later. Two such deaths occurred in 2020, five in 2021, three in 2023, three in 2024, and two so far this year. Another tragedy unfolded in February 2021 when a woman died after a brick fell on her from an under construction building in Dhaka's Demra area. These incidents are not isolated events, but reflect a shocking pattern of negligence by the concerned authorities and the government. While infrastructure mishaps mostly consisted of potholes and bumpy roads in the past, now they have morphed into unforeseen mechanical failures leading to fatalities. It appears that the development of our country's infrastructure is coming at the cost of people's lives and safety. Despite warnings from experts and investigations, such recurrences are a cause of great alarm. Swift action should be taken to identify and address the causes of these repeated accidents. In the meantime, public confidence can be restored by holding those responsible accountable.
Aisha Siddiqa and Tasnim Faruk
Bashundhara Residential Area
Dhaka