Recent reports highlight the alarming rise in road fatalities on major highways in Bangladesh, particularly on routes linking Dhaka to Khulna and Barisal, where a total of 320 lives were tragically lost over the past year.

Blamed factors include unskilled drivers, speeding, negligence by authorities, and widespread violations of traffic regulations. Despite assertions by highway police regarding implemented safety measures, the effectiveness of these initiatives has come under scrutiny following a recent catastrophic accident on the Dhaka-Khulna highway, resulting in 15 fatalities.

The incident prompted the formation of a five-member investigative committee, tasked with submitting a report within three working days. The committee comprises representatives from various relevant departments, including the Roads and Highways division, Highway police, district police, and Fire Service.

The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads, and Railways (NCPSRR) condemned the authorities' negligence, particularly highlighting the illicit practice of carrying passengers in prohibited vehicles. This criticism follows a disturbing trend of fatal accidents, such as the overturning of a bus on the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Bhanga, which claimed three lives and injured ten others on March 8.

The Roads and Highways division and highway police attribute the surge in accidents to overspeeding, inexperienced drivers, reckless motorcycle riding, and pedestrians' risky attempts to cross highways.

The Faridpur Highway Police revealed that a significant portion of the Bangabandhu Expressway, spanning from Jatrabari in Dhaka to Bhanga in Faridpur, witnessed a high number of accidents, resulting in a considerable loss of lives.

Efforts to mitigate road crashes include the filing of 28,404 cases and levying fines totaling Tk9.43 crore for reckless driving on the Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Barisal highways over the past year. Despite these measures, the collective responsibility of vehicle owners, transport workers, passengers, and residents residing along highways is emphasized in addressing road safety concerns.