FROM PAGE 3

Accidents increase during Eid due to poor driver skills, weak road engineering, lack of coordination among agencies, and widespread violations of traffic rules, Additional IGP of Highway Police Delwar Hossain told The Daily Star.

“Many drivers forget they are responsible for 35 to 40 passengers,” he said, noting that speeding remains a major issue, with vehicles often exceeding the 80 kmph limit.

Referring to the Dhaka–Chattogram highway, he said there are 642 feeder roads along the route, allowing CNGs and auto-rickshaws to enter the highway illegally.

During the Eid season, traffic increases significantly on all roads and highways, and with only around 2,900 highway police personnel nationwide, managing the surge becomes even more difficult.

Motorcycles account for about 40 percent of accidents, largely due to high speeds, he added.

“Where there are no service roads, it becomes even harder to control such vehicles,” he said.

He stressed that better coordination and planning are essential, suggesting that police be involved in road projects from the beginning to address operational challenges.

“Police alone cannot solve the problem. Drivers, passengers, and all stakeholders must share responsibility,” he said.