351 killed, 1,288 injured in Eid travel accidents: BJKS

A total of 394 people were killed and 1,288 others injured in accidents across roads, waterways and railways during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, according to a passenger welfare platform.
Secretary General Mozammel Haque Chowdhury of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) revealed the figures on Monday at a press briefing at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
He said road accidents accounted for the majority of casualties.
During the period between March 14 and March 28 last, some 351 people were killed and 1,046 injured in 346 road accidents.
Mr Chowdhury further said motorcycles were involved in the highest number of accidents, as in previous years, accounting for 27.16 percent of the total.
Trucks and covered vans were involved in 17.73 per cent of accidents, followed by buses with 16.22 per cent, battery-run rickshaws 15.28 per cent, cars and microbuses 8.49 per cent, Nasimon-Karimon 7.73 per cent, and CNG-run auto-rickshaws 7.35 percent.
Road accidents increased by 8.95 per cent, fatalities rose by 8.26 per cent per cent during this year's Eid over that of last year, said the BJKS.
According to the welfare platform, eight people were killed, 19 injured and three others remained missing in eight waterway accidents. It further said some 35 people were killed and 223 injured in 23 railway accidents during the period.
Though the extended holiday allowed staggered travels, the opportunity was not fully utilized, it said.
Mismanagement on highways, unfit and risky vehicles, weak railway infrastructure, lack of public awareness and a shortage of public transports contributed to increased sufferings and accidents.
The BJKS urged the government to ensure greater use of technology in road management, improve drivers' skills, introduce safer vehicles, and strictly enforce existing laws to enhance safety across road, water and rail transport.

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