Road accidents on Bangladesh’s highways tend to rise sharply during the Eid holidays, when millions of people leave major cities to celebrate with their families in rural areas. The sudden surge in traffic, combined with risky driving behaviour and inadequate safety enforcement, often results in tragic loss of life. In an effort to reduce such incidents during the upcoming Eid travel period, the youth forum of Dhaka Ahsania Mission has put forward nine recommendations aimed at strengthening road safety measures across the country.
The proposals were presented on Tuesday in a press release by Marzana Muntaha, coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing. According to the organisation, Eid travel creates extraordinary pressure on highways and regional roads, with long-distance buses, motorcycles, private vehicles and informal transport services all competing for limited road space.
The statement notes that road crashes during Eid are frequently caused by excessive speed, reckless overtaking, risky motorcycle riding and the lack of caution among pedestrians. Drivers often face tight schedules and fatigue due to extended working hours, further increasing the likelihood of accidents. In addition, poorly maintained vehicles and unregulated local transport add to the hazards.
Data from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) illustrate the scale of the problem. During the eight-day Eid-ul-Fitr holiday in 2024, at least 132 people were killed and 208 injured in 110 road accidents nationwide. The previous year also saw a significant number of casualties during the festive period.
The following table summarises key available figures related to Eid-period road accidents:
| Year | Eid Period | Number of Accidents | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 days (Eid-ul-Fitr) | 110 | 132 | 208 |
| 2023 | 15 days (Eid-ul-Fitr) | Not specified | 239 | Not specified |
BRTA data also indicate that the number of deaths from road accidents increased by nearly 19 per cent in 2024 compared with the previous year, highlighting a worrying trend and the need for stronger preventive action.
To address the issue, the youth forum has proposed nine key measures. These include the rapid formulation and strict enforcement of guidelines to regulate vehicle speed, particularly during Eid travel. Ensuring that all motorcyclists and passengers wear standard safety helmets is another priority, along with issuing clear enforcement directives on helmet compliance.
The organisation also recommends banning the operation of vehicles that lack valid fitness certificates and ensuring that drivers adhere to regulated working hours so they receive adequate rest between journeys. Another proposal calls for restricting the movement of slow-moving and unsafe vehicles—such as nasimon, karimon, battery-powered three-wheelers and locally modified vehicles—on major highways during peak travel days.
Further recommendations emphasise strict monitoring and enforcement against driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which remains a serious safety concern in many parts of the world. The forum also highlights the need to improve pedestrian safety by keeping footpaths free from street vendors and encouraging greater use of pedestrian bridges for road crossings.
Finally, the organisation stresses the importance of institutional accountability in maintaining road discipline. It calls for coordinated action by relevant authorities and advocates the adoption of an integrated road safety law based on the internationally recognised “Safe System Approach”, which prioritises safer roads, safer vehicles, responsible road users and effective enforcement.
According to the youth forum, implementing these recommendations could significantly reduce road fatalities during the Eid holidays. Ensuring safer travel conditions would allow millions of people to celebrate the festival with their families without the shadow of preventable tragedy on the nation’s roads.