Why Dhaka-Mawa Expressway is becoming a hotspot for deadly crashes

In just three months, 24 accidents have claimed 16 lives on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway, the first national expressway of Bangladesh. 

On the night of 17 April, a 'Barishal Express' bus had its roof torn off after hitting a covered van and continued to drive for six more kilometers before being stopped by locals. 

How it happened:

• The bus left Dhaka's Sayedabad terminal around 8:30pm with nearly 60 passengers.  
• Shortly after entering the expressway, it collided violently with a covered van on the Kamarkhola Bridge in Srinagar.
• The crash shattered the bus roof, which clung to the back before flying off entirely in the Shamaspur area.
• Shockingly, like a scene from a film, the driver didn't stop, even after hitting a private car next.
• Locals in Kumarbhog Market finally managed to intercept the vehicle.  
• The driver fled the scene, leaving eight injured passengers behind.  

What people said:

"This was unlike anything I've ever seen," said 70-year-old Kabir Hossain of Kumarbhog area. "The bus had no roof, people inside were screaming, and still the driver kept going. He had to be intoxicated."

From the bus terminal:

• At Sayedabad, Barishal Express Counter Manager Md Badrul Alam said no one in the company knows what led to the driver's recklessness. He called for government-mandated training for inter-district drivers.
• Md Shamim Mia, a passenger at the terminal, said, "Since the construction of the expressway, bus drivers have been driving at reckless speeds. They race each other to see who can cross the Padma Bridge first, while passengers remain anxious." 
• A bus driver named Latif Biswas said, "Drivers are always blamed. Whenever an accident happens, everyone beats up the driver. Because of such fears, the driver of the Barisal Express might not have the courage to stop the bus."
• He also claimed that most of the time, passengers urge the driver to speed up to reach the destination soon. 

The Dhaka-Mawa Expressway. Photo: TBS

The bigger picture:

• Passengers and drivers agree on one thing: speeding has become the norm on this expressway.  

By the numbers:

• January: 10 accidents, 10 deaths  
• February: 10 accidents, 5 deaths  
• March to mid-April: 4 accidents, 1 death  

Accountability and action:

• The involved bus has been impounded.  
• BRTA temporarily suspended its registration.  
• The owner must present all documents, including the driver's license, to avoid permanent revocation.  

What's next:

• Highway Police call for speed cameras and enforcement  
• Restrictions on motorcycles after dark  
• Formal training requirements for drivers