Some 2,297 people, including 292 women and 315 children, were killed while 5,480 others escaped with injuries from a total of 1,983 road accidents recorded across the country in the first six months of 2017.

The accidents were reported to have occurred on roads and highways including national highways, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and June 30 this year.

The National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR), an NGO that advocates for safe streets, revealed the half-yearly numbers while releasing its regular monthly survey and observation report on road accidents in Bangladesh.

The report was prepared from perusal of 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies - hence it is important to note they only take into account accidents that get reported.

The NCPSRR report’s findings mean although both the rate of fatalities and incidence of accidents have gone up significantly, the growth in the former has far outpaced the latter.

According to the National Committee’s report, 333 people, including 34 women and 42 children, lost lives and 632 others received injuries in 265 mishaps in the last month (June).

Among the deceased a total of 120 people, including 11 women and 15 children, were killed and 226 others injured in between June 23 and 30 during the 8-day Eid holidays.

The NCPSRR in their report acknowledge ‘better transport management’ and ‘strict monitoring’ by the authorities for a decrease in accidents and casualties over Eid-ul-Fitr this year in comparison with previous years.