7,364 students killed in road accidents since 2019: Report
Motorcycle crashes claimed 3,841 student lives, accounting for 52.2% of student fatalities
At least 7,364 students were killed in road accidents across Bangladesh between 2019 and June 2026, accounting for more than 15% of all road fatalities during the period, according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
The figures were released in a report published today (28 July) ahead of the eighth anniversary of the 2018 road safety movement triggered by the deaths of two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin Cantonment College in Dhaka.
Of the victims, 3,328 school and madrasa students aged 5-17 accounted for 45.2% of the deaths, while 4,036 college and university students aged 18-25 made up the remaining 54.8%.
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Motorcycle crashes claimed the highest number of student lives, killing 3,841 students (52.2%). Another 1,923 students (26.1%) died as pedestrians after being hit by vehicles, while 927 (12.6%) were killed as passengers.
According to the report, 2,149 student deaths occurred on regional roads, followed by 1,947 on rural roads, 1,786 on city roads and 1,482 on highways.
The report said children aged 5-12 were mostly killed after being struck by autorickshaws, motorcycles and goods vehicles while travelling to and from school or playing near their homes, particularly on rural roads.
Among those aged 13-25, motorcycle crashes were the leading cause of death. The report also said 1,237 students were killed after being hit by trains while crossing railway lines carelessly or walking along tracks wearing headphones.
The RSF attributed the deaths to poor road infrastructure, unsafe vehicles, weak road safety awareness and training, reckless motorcycle riding and poor enforcement of traffic laws.
It recommended annual road safety campaigns in educational institutions, teacher training, inclusion of road safety in examinations, stronger public awareness drives, removal of unsafe vehicles, improved safety around schools and colleges, and stricter enforcement of laws preventing minors from riding motorcycles.
The organisation said that despite eight years having passed since the 2018 nationwide movement for safer roads, discipline has yet to be established in the transport sector, while enforcement of the Road Transport Act and long-term reforms remain inadequate.
