Road accidents rise 60% in 5 years, deaths up 36%, injuries 123%: RSF
According to the report, motorcycles were the leading cause of accidents. In 2025, 2,671 people died in 3,029 motorcycle accidents, accounting for 36.29% of all road deaths
Road accidents in Bangladesh have increased by nearly 60% in the past five years. During the same period, deaths from accidents rose by about 36%, according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).
There has been a rise in injuries, which has more than doubled, increasing by 123%.
The information was shared by the Road Safety Foundation at an event titled "Annual report of road accidents 2025, review and reform recommendations" today (10 January) at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Sagar-Runi auditorium.
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According to the report, motorcycles were the leading cause of accidents. In 2025, 2,671 people died in 3,029 motorcycle accidents, accounting for 36.29% of all road deaths.
Most motorcycle victims were young men aged 14 to 45. Motorcycles make up 71% of all motor vehicles in the country, but safety management remains weak, the report added.
Pedestrian deaths were also high. In 2025, 1,564 pedestrians died, representing 21.25% of total fatalities. Around 1,008 children were killed, nearly half as pedestrians. Child and pedestrian deaths were higher on rural and regional roads due to unsafe roads, lack of footbridges, and weak law enforcement.
Dhaka recorded the highest toll with 2,018 deaths in 2,139 accidents. In the capital, most accidents occurred at night, 41.56%, with heavy vehicles posing major risks.
The report said that the financial cost of road accidents in 2025 was estimated at nearly Tk25,550.85 crore. Including unreported cases, the loss could exceed 1.5% of GDP.
The Road Safety Foundation recommended restructuring the National Road Safety Council, improving accountability of BRTA, BRTC and DTCA, appointing experienced experts, using IoT technology for motorcycle safety, and making quality helmets mandatory.
Other suggestions include passing road safety laws, removing old vehicles, expanding driver training, improving driver wages and health services, upgrading risky vehicles, building service roads for slow vehicles, conducting safety audits, rationalising bus routes, providing school and college buses, training officials on road safety, raising public awareness, installing gatekeepers at rail crossings, setting up trauma care centres along highways, creating a unified transport ministry, and establishing a trust fund for accident victims.
