FAKIRHAT, BAGERHAT, Apr 18: Road accidents in Fakirhat Upazila have risen sharply, leaving at least 11 people dead and 46 injured in the past three and a half months from January 2 to April 16, according to police and local sources.
Most of the victims were motorcyclists and pedestrians, with the majority of crashes taking place on highways.
In the latest incident on Thursday, a van passenger, Subir De, 65, was killed when a bus hit a van at Shyambagat area of Piljanga on the Khulna-Mongla highway. Another person was injured.
Earlier, a series of fatal accidents were reported across the upazila. On January 2, bus supervisor Selim Sheikh, 45 was killed after a truck hit a passenger bus at Palerhat, causing it to lose control and crash into a tree. Driver Murad Hossain, 41, and passenger Sohag Howlader, 44, were injured.
On January 16, farmer Abid Morol, 65, died after being run over by a truck at Town-Nowapara. On January 22, an unidentified pedestrian was killed after being hit by a bus at Boro Khajura.
On February 2, motorcyclist Kaushik Debnath, 20, died after being hit by a private car near Fakirhat Fire Service Station. On February 15, at least 15 people were injured in a head-on collision between two buses at Bishwaroad intersection.
On February 17, Parveen Akhter, 45, died after being injured in a bus crash. On February 19, motorcyclist Hasib Molla, 25, was killed after being run over by a covered van at Bishwaroad area.
On March 7, Istiaq Ahmed, 34, died after his motorcycle hit a culvert railing at Kakdanga. On March 15, Badal Ray Chowdhury, 53, was killed when a pickup van hit him at Town-Nowapara junction. On April 1, student Shahad, 11, died in a bus crash at Bailtoli. On April 6, Yasin Sheikh, 55, was killed in another bus accident on the Pagla-Shyamnagar road.
Road safety experts say overspeeding is a major cause of crashes, with drivers often ignoring the 40 km/h speed limit on major highways, including the Dhaka-Khulna, Khulna-Mongla, and Khulna-Barishal routes. Reckless overtaking and loss of control also contribute to frequent accidents.
Locals say several accident-prone spots, including Bishwaroad intersection, Kanarpukur, Piljanga, Town-Nowapara, Khajura, and Shyambagat, have warning signs, but these are often ignored. They also blame rising traffic pressure for increasing risks.
Other factors include unfit vehicles, unlicensed or unskilled drivers, lack of speed breakers and footbridges, and unauthorized vehicles on highways.
Fakirhat Fire Service Station Officer Md Shahjahan Mia said the actual number of casualties could be higher, as many victims are taken directly to Khulna Medical College Hospital without being recorded locally.
Mollahat Highway Police OC Md Asaduzzaman Howlader said violations of traffic rules and reckless driving are driving the rise in accidents, adding that regular checkpoints and drives are being conducted to curb crashes.
