For millions of Bangladeshis, Eid is the greatest and most joyous occasion of the year. Families get together during this time, and we travel to our villages from the cities to celebrate with our loved ones. As millions of people return home at this time, buses, trains, ferries, and highways get particularly packed. People look forward to spending happy times with their families, eating festive feasts, and getting together to pray. Returning home is one of the best parts of Eid for many people.
However, this happy route frequently turns disastrous. During the Eid holidays, many people lose their lives in road crush every year. Instead of joyful reunions, some families receive devastating news about road crushes. Roads that are designed to carry people home, sometimes become sites of grief and mourning. It should thus be a national priority to make Eid travel safe. It takes a firm response from the government, effective law enforcement services, smart transport providers and well-behaved users of the road.
Recent data indicates that the issue is serious and terrible. A total of 110 road crush took place across the country during last Eid-ul-Fitr’s eight-day holiday in which at least 132 people were killed and as many as 208 injured, according to a report from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). This trend of high deaths during Eid travel is very disturbing. During the Eid-ul-Fitr of 2023, a total of 239 people died in road crush over a span of 15 days. Daily Eid travel deaths in 2023 stood at 16, rising to 19 people per day in the following year. This marks an almost 19 percent rise in deaths from the previous year, BRTA sources said. The annual repetition of these tragedies indicates that road crush in Eid are not isolated incidents but part of a bigger systemic problem and immediate solutions need to be implemented.
The broader national picture shows an even more pernicious reality. Road crush in Bangladesh claimed 5,490 lives in 2025, the highest death toll recorded in recent years according to BRTA statistics. But international estimates indicate the real picture could be much larger. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, 31,578 dies every year in road crashes across Bangladesh which is far higher than the national figure found in statistics. This difference highlights issues in road crash reporting and data collection systems. In Bangladesh, the number of road crash deaths has been rising steadily over the years, according to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023. In 2015, the WHO estimated there were 21,316 deaths while police report only showed 2,376. In a similar scenario, WHO estimated 24,944 deaths in 2018 while police records cited only 2,635. By 2021, the annual death toll was estimated by WHO to have increased to 31,578 — a concerning upward trend. The fatality rate has similarly risen over time. In 2016, the road crush death rate was 15.3 per 100 thousand population while this figure rose to around 19 in 2021 for Bangladesh WHO sources confirmed. The figures demonstrate that road safety is still a pressing challenge and that current measures are not enough to save lives.
In addition to the human tragedy, road crush have a significant negative influence on the nation’s economy. According to experts, road crashes cost Bangladesh about 3% of its GDP annually. This economic cost includes medical expenses for treating the injured, lost production due to deaths and disabilities, auto damage, and continuing financial difficulties experienced by families that lose their main breadwinners. When a working household member passes away or becomes permanently disabled, many low-income families fall into poverty as a whole. Families frequently have to deal with long-term medical costs, and children must miss school. These facts demonstrate that road safety is not only a transportation concern but also a major public health, social protection, and development issue for Bangladesh.
The significant increase in transportation at this time is one of the main causes. In a matter of days, millions of people return home, causing severe traffic jams on the roads and in public transportation. In order to increase their profits, transportation providers want to carry more people and operate more trips. Bus drivers become unhealthily competitive as a result. Some drivers speed and dangerously pass other cars in order to reach locations more quickly and pick up more passengers. Driver weariness is another major problem. During Eid travel, many drivers put in a lot of overtime and don’t get enough sleep; in certain situations, they drive nonstop for 16 to 20 hours. Drivers who are fatigued are less likely to pay attention and respond quickly, which increases the risk of collisions. During Eid, motorbike travel is also on the rise. Many young people ride motorcycles to get home quickly, which frequently entails traveling large distances on highways. However, safety rules are routinely broken. Passenger helmets are optional, and riding a motorcycle with more than two persons is typical. The problem is made worse by lax enforcement of traffic laws, which allows unsafe cars, excessive speeding, and overcrowded buses to operate without facing severe consequences.
One of the main causes of road crush is over speeding. Slowing down significantly reduces the likelihood of both crush and fatalities, according to research. According to study, road crush increases by 4 to 5 percent for every kilometer per hour rise in vehicle speed. There is also a clear association between speed and survival. If a pedestrian is struck by an incoming car at 30 km/h, they have a 99 percent probability of surviving. The odds of survival fall to roughly 80% at 50 km/h. These results highlight the fact that one of the most successful strategies for preventing road fatalities is efficient speed control. Slow speed limits could significantly reduce mortality in densely populated places, particularly during periods of high travel demand like Eid.
The establishment of a new government in Bangladesh offers a special chance to address the issue of road safety with fresh resolve and initiative. Given the dangers associated with high-risk times like Eid travel, road safety need to be a national priority. The government could address this issue in a few doable ways. The Road Safety Act should be severely formulate in order to effectively prevent speeding, illegal overtaking, and dangerous driving. Additionally, authorities want to increase the number of vehicle fitness examinations and remove dangerous cars from the road. In order to reduce fatigue-related crushing, driver working hour rules with required rest breaks should be implemented. For Eid travel, it is also essential to strengthen highway surveillance. For motorcycle passengers, wearing helmets for both drivers and passengers, will be crucial in reducing fatalities at the same time. However, the government is not solely responsible for making roadways safer. To prevent road crush, drivers, passengers, and transportation providers all have share responsibilities. In any case, drivers should drive safely and responsibly, avoiding risky passing, maintaining their cars properly, and keeping their speed within reasonable bounds. It is the responsibility of travelers to reject dangerous cars and demand that transportation providers act responsibly. Campaigns to raise public awareness are crucial in encouraging safer travel during Eid. Youth networks, civil groups, and media outlets can raise awareness of road safety among those who can change their driving habits.
The ultimate objective must to be that nobody lost life while traveling home to celebrate Eid. For citizens, public safety is a fundamental right rather than a privilege. These homecomings should be joyful rather than painful. Bangladesh must now work together to secure the safety of the millions of people who will be traveling throughout the nation this Eid. The nation may strive for a future when Eid travel is remembered for joy and celebration rather than tragedy with strict regulations and improved enforcement, responsible transportation service management, and increased public awareness.
The writer is Advocacy Officer (Policy), Health Sector, Dhaka Ahsania Mission. He can be reached at monoarul@amic.org.bd
