DHAKA: A total of 56,048 people were killed and 44,588 others severely injured in countrywide road accidents from 1994 to March 2003. In an average, eight people died everyday and most of the road mishaps took places from 1997 to 2008.

This shocking data was revealed by private organization Bangladesh Bioethics Society (BBS). The BBS disclosed the data in a seminar held in the city recently.

In a latest development to the road crash, at least 33 people were killed and 40 others injured when two passenger buses collided with each other on Banpara-Hatikumrul road at Baraigram upazila of Natore district Monday afternoon.

The BBS data shows the highest numbers of road crashes took place from 1997 to 2008. In 1997, a total of 5,548 road accidents occurred that claimed 3,162 lives whereas 3,398 people killed in some 4,914 road crashes in 2002.

Experts expressed concerns over the increasing road mishaps across the country and recommended for immediate identification of reasons behind the mishaps.

The also urged the authorities concerned to take the necessary steps to control the road accidents.

BBS secretary general Shamima Parven Lasker told banglanews that most of the accidents took place due to reckless speed of vehicles; for this reasons, drivers lost control over the steering.

Controlling vehicle speed, avoiding drunk-driving, tying seatbelt during ride and using helmets by motorbike riders would lessen the road accidents, she added.

Shamima said that enactment of a law is necessary to control vehicle speed in addition to increasing use of symbols related to road accidents on highways.

A high official of Dhaka police range (highway), however, told banglanews that vehicles speed on the highways always remain under a limited speed.

Law enforcers always on alert so no vehicle falls into the accident, added the officials.

BDST: 0925 HRS, OCT 21, 2014