8 killed, 49 injured in Paikgachha road mishaps in one year

PAIKGACHHA, KHULNA, Oct 22: In Paikgachha of Khulna, eight people were killed and 49 injured in road accidents over the past one year. 

This picture of road accidents emerged at a press conference organised by the Paikgachha Upazila branch of Nirapad Sarak Chai (NiSCha) on the occasion of National Safe Road Day, highlighting road accident statistics and the measures needed to prevent accidents.

At the press conference held on the morning of Wednesday at the office of the Sholana Traders' Cooperative Society, S M Ala Uddin Sohag, journalist and Road Accident Affairs Secretary of the NiSCha Upazila branch, published the annual report on road accidents in the area from 20 October 2025 to 20 October 2026. According to NiSCha data, 63 small and large road accidents occurred in the upazila over the past one year. In these, eight people were killed and 49 injured.

The report identified reckless driving, drivers' unawareness, driving vehicles without valid driving licences, disobeying traffic laws, movement of vehicles without fitness certificates and the illegal setting up of markets and shops along roadsides as the causes of road accidents.

At the time, emphasis was placed on effectively enforcing traffic laws, raising drivers' awareness, ensuring valid licences and vehicle fitness, and removing illegal occupation and obstacles along roadsides to reduce road accidents.

The press conference called upon the relevant authorities, vehicle drivers and ordinary people to collectively play a responsible role in ensuring safe roads. Alongside this, emphasis was given to taking effective initiatives and raising public awareness to prevent road accidents.

The press conference was presided over by H M Shafiul Islam, journalist and President of the organisation, and conducted by M Elias Hossain, General Secretary. Those present included G M Shukuruzzaman, President of the Sholana Traders' Cooperative Society; Mizanur Rahman, journalist and President of the Reporters' Unity; Md Abdul Aziz, journalist and Senior Vice-President of NiSCha; Advocate Ekramul Islam; Md Huraira Badsha; Snehendu Bikash; Kazi Sohag; Jalal Uddin; Abu Hanif Milon; and Faridul Islam.

Later, NiSCha leaders distributed awareness leaflets among vehicle drivers at the upazila headquarters to prevent road accidents.