Staff Correspondent

At least 168 people were killed and 283 injured in 149 road crashes across the country in 13 days while travelling during the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, according to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.

Besides, the passengers’ welfare platform said, at least 17 people died and 45 went missing in six waterways-related accidents in between May 19 and May 31. No casualties were reported in one train-related accident during the time, the organisation said.

The organisation prepared the report collating data from media reports. The organisation’s Secretary General Mozammel Hoque Chowdhury presented the statistics at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium yesterday.

As per government directives, most public and private offices were closed and public transport service remained suspended from March 26 to May 30 to control the transmission of Covid-19 in the country.

But many people left Dhaka before Eid in private and other vehicles, ignoring authorities’ “stay home” advice, posing a serious risk of getting infected.

At least 273 people were killed and 849 injured in 232 road accidents across the country during the same period last year, according to the organisation.

The organisation said motorcycles were involved in the highest 35.78 percent road crashes, while truck, pickup, lorry and covered vans were involved in 28.98 percent, private car, microbus in 12.07 percent, illegal three-wheelers in 6.28 percent and bus in 0.97 percent.

Kazi Md Shifun Newaz, assistant professor of Accident Research Institute of Buet, among other was present at the press briefing.