At least 8,516 people were killed and 9,751 others injured in 6,213 accidents on roads, railways and waterways last year, said a report of Jatri Kalyan Samity (JKS) on Sunday.
The organization revealed the findings on accidents at a press briefing held at Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
JKS Secretary General Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury said a total of 7,809 people were killed and 9,039 others injured in 5,629 road accidents in 2021 while 6,686 were killed and 8,600 injured in 4,891 road accidents in 2020.
He also said 396 people were killed and 134 others injured in 402 railway accidents during the period between January and December in 2021.
The waterways witnessed 182 accidents last year which left 311 people dead and 578 others injured. Also 544 people went missing in waterway accidents.
Mr Mozammel said all the accidents on roads, railways and waterways happened during 85 days' suspension/restrictions on the movement of mass transport due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.
Faulty roads, lack of vehicle fitness, reckless driving by most drivers, risky overtaking, unawareness of passengers and pedestrians and lack of skills of drivers were among the main reasons for road accidents, he added.
He also recommended setting up of digital cameras, enforcing Road Transport Act 2018, allocating more funds for road safety, implementing all recommendations for road safety, establishing institutes for providing training to traffic officials, modernizing the road transport and communication, providing training to all the drivers and stopping illegal toll collection and mismanagement in the road transport sector for the betterment of the country and the people.
Director, Accident Research Centre of BUET Dr Hadiuzzaman, former director of FBCCI Abdul Haque and human rights activist Noor Khan Liton were present at the press conference, among others.
