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Published : 21 Oct 2025, 11:41 PM
At least three road accidents occur every day on Cumilla highways, killing two and injuring at least five people daily -- a rate nearly double that of last year, according to Highway Police.
Data from the Dhaka–Chattogram, Cumilla–Noakhali, Cumilla–Sylhet, and Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highways, spanning 792km, paint a grim picture of rising fatalities across the region.
From January to September this year, the region recorded 842 accidents, killing 525 people and injuring 1,210, said Superintendent of Police Shahinur Alam Khan of Cumilla Highway Region.
On the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway alone, from Daudkandi Toll Plaza in Cumilla to Chattogram City Gate, 465 accidents killed 284 people and injured 509.
Highway Police data show that compared with 2024, both the number of accidents and casualties have risen significantly in 2025. Last year, the region reported 630 accidents, killing 522 and injuring 784. Officials now fear this year’s death toll may surpass all previous records.
SPEEDING, POOR ROADS, POLICE INACTIVITY
According to Saiful Islam, motor vehicle inspector at Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), over 40 percent of the crashes stem from excessive speed.
“Despite speed control drives, neither the BRTA nor the police have enough manpower to effectively enforce rules,” he said.
Journalist Abdullah Al Maruf blamed what he called police “inactivity” on highways since Aug 5 last year, saying it was one of the main reasons for the surge.
“Had Highway Police been active, they could have curbed speeding, acted against unfit vehicles, and held unlicensed drivers accountable,” he said.
He added that the BRTA “cannot evade responsibility either” and that stronger coordination could restore discipline on the highways.
“Many regional roads remain riddled with potholes and broken surfaces for over a year,” he said. “These damaged roads are destroying vehicles and causing more deadly crashes.”
ILLEGAL VEHICLES
Kabir Ahmed, vice-president of the Bangladesh Road Transport Owners’ Association, said illegal vehicles outnumber legal ones by at least 20 to 1.
“About 90 percent of crashes involve either legal vehicles colliding with illegal ones or the latter alone,” he said.
He blamed unskilled, unlicensed drivers, three-wheelers on highways, illegal roadside markets, and low public awareness for the deadly situation.
On the licensing issue, Kabir said: “Bangladesh has about 6.2 million registered motor vehicles with the BRTA. Of these, 4.6 million are motorcycles.
“Yet BRTA has issued only 2.9 million driving licences -- meaning about 3.3 million vehicles are operated by unlicensed drivers.”
He added that the BRTA itself “may not even have clear data on how many vehicles operate daily,” as no limits are set on highway traffic volume.
CCTV CAMERAS NOT HELPING
Despite installing around 1,500 CCTV cameras along 250km of the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway to enhance safety, Highway Police say they cannot yet access footage from all units.
Some zones can track overspeeding vehicles and file cases, but police believe full access to footage would make the highways far safer.
SP Shahinur Alam Khan said the cameras’ control and maintenance have not yet been handed over to the Highway Police.
“Currently, a control room at Meghna Ghat monitors the functioning cameras,” he said. “Some were damaged during the Aug 5 movement, but repairs are under way.”
THREE-WHEELERS
The SP added that removing three-wheelers from highways remains difficult without increasing public transport options.
“Many people depend on these vehicles for their livelihoods,” he said. “We’re working to keep them away from key highway zones.”
The Cumilla–Sylhet Highway, spanning 62km, remains in the worst condition within the region -- riddled with potholes and cracks. Several regional roads under the Roads and Highways Department are also in disrepair.
Abul Hasan, a driver with Sugandha Paribahan, said: “Not a single day passes without an accident. The poor road condition is the main cause.
“Narrow and broken roads force small vehicles into collisions with heavy trucks and buses, costing lives and limbs. We’re exhausted from complaining.”
Adnan Ibn Alam, sub-assistant engineer of the Cumilla Roads and Highways Division, said: “Last year’s flooding and this year’s heavy rains damaged about 150km of roads in Cumilla. We expect to complete all repairs by December or January.”
