DHAKA: Bangladesh is considered as one of the accident-prone countries in the world. It also witnessed a number of tragic accidents round the year.
Some major accidents took place in 2014 are:
February 15: Eight students killed in Jessore road crash
At least eight primary students were killed and several others injured in a road accident at Chaugachha upazila in Jessore on February 15.
May 16: Launch capsized in Meghna
A heavily-laden launch MV Miraz-4 that capsized the Meghna River in Gazaria upazila in Munshiganj after fell in a storm, leaving at least 57 people dead and several hundreds missing.
July 1: Ten people killed in Jessore road mishap
At least 10 people were killed and 16 others injured in a road accident on Jessore-Benapole highway in Gadkhali area of Jhikargacha thana in Jessore.
July 4: Pinak-6 capsized in Padma
The launch Pinak-6, carrying more than 200 passengers, capsized in the River Padma near Mawa Ghat in Louhajang upazila of Munshiganj district on July 4, leaving at least 47 dead and over one hundred people missing.
July 11: Eleven killed as bus ploughs through crowd in Barisal
At least 11 people were killed and 40 others injured when a passenger bus ploughed through a makeshift market on Dhaka-Barisal highway at Ichhladi in Barisal.
July 31: Twelve people killed as train hits wedding bus in Jhenidah
At least 12 people including children were killed and 60 others were injured as a train hit a bus carrying a wedding party while it was crossing the rail lines at Barobazar of Kaliganj upazila in Jhenidah.
August 6: 8 killed in Narshingdi road crash
At least eight people were killed and 63 persons were injured after gas cylinder of a bus exploded triggering fire as two buses collided head-on on Dhaka-Sylhet highway at BSCIC industrial area in Shibpur of Narsingdi.
October 20: 36 killed in Natore road crash
At least 36 people were killed and 42 others injured as two passenger buses collided head-on on Banpara-Hatikumrul road at Baraigram upazila in Natore.
December 16: Seven killed in Habiganj road crash
Seven people were killed and fourteen others injured critically in a road accident on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Sutang area of Habiganj.
December 23: Jhalakathi bus plunge kills 10
Ten people were killed and 40 injured as an out-of-control bus plunged into a roadside ditch in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi.
December 24: Ten people killed in Tangail road crash
At least 10 people were killed and three others injured as a truck hit a human hauler in Ashura area under Madhupur upazila in Tangail.
However, Bangladesh is trying to modernize its road network, modernizing highways is not necessarily the key to get rid of road mishaps. Better roads, are not necessarily safer roads. Public awareness is more important and effective to get remedy from this curse.
Let’s hope and move to a happy new year 2015 where we will hardly face any major accidents in our life.
BDST: 2122 HRS, DEC 30, 2014
