Dhaka: The rate of road fatalities declined almost half in six years since 2008 due to a gradual fall in accident rate in the country, claimed Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader in Parliament on Monday.

A total of 2,067 people were killed in 2,027 road accidents in 2014, while 3,765 in 4,427 accidents in 2008, according to statistics the minister placed in the Parliament.

Besides, 2,958 people were killed in road accidents in 2009, while 2,646 in 2010, 2,546 in 2011, 2,538 in 2012 and 1,957 in 2013, he said replying to a starred question from independent MP Rustum Ali Faraji (Pirojpur-3), reported UNB.

Meanwhile, some 33,000 people were killed and injured in nearly 20,000 road accidents in seven years from 2008 to 2014 as per the statistics.

Of them, 18,477 were killed, 12,196 deadly injured.

Describing the causes behind the downward trend in road accident, the minister said it is gradually declining due to strict enforcement of the existing laws.

To maintain the declining trend of accident, he said, road users need to be more cautious and change their mindset.

In reply to a scripted question from Awami League MP Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), the minister said there are now some 25 lakh registered motorised vehicles across the country. ‘As of January 31, 2016, a total of 24,88,101 motorised vehicles have been registered,’ he said.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) registers 855 motorized vehicles a day, he told the House.