FE REPORT
At least 360 students were killed and 109 others injured in 320 road accidents across the country in six months from January to June this year (2026), said Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) on Saturday.
Secretary General of BJKS Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury revealed the figures in a statement issued on Saturday (11 July), marking the 15th anniversary of the Mirsarai tragedy.
He said the country continues to lose a large number of students to road accidents every year, with many suffering injuries and some being left permanently disabled due to the absence of regular safety awareness programmes involving students, teachers, and guardians to prevent a repeat of the Mirsarai tragedy.
Mr Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury said January 2026 saw 57 road accidents that killed 57 students and injured 22 others, while February recorded 39 accidents claiming 47 students' lives and leaving 11 injured.
He said that March was the deadliest month with 59 accidents killing 67 students, though only one injury was reported that month.
April recorded 51 accidents with 56 students killed and 25 injured, followed by May, which saw the highest monthly accident count at 61, killing 73 students and injuring 23. In June, 53 accidents left 60 students dead and 27 injured, he said.
He also said that the country continues to lose students to road accidents every year due to a lack of effective safety awareness initiatives.
Recalling the Mirsarai tragedy, he said a mini-truck carrying students from several schools plunged into a roadside ditch in Chattogram's Mirsarai upazila on 11 July 2011, killing 45 people, including students.
"The incident remains the deadliest single road accident in Bangladesh," he said.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
