7,963 Children Killed in Road Accidents in 6.9 Years
A total of 7,963 children were killed in road accidents in Bangladesh over six years and nine months, according to a report by the Road Safety Foundation.
Of the victims, 2,958 were motorcycle riders or passengers, accounting for 37.14% of the total. Another 2,812 children were killed as pedestrians.
The foundation released the report on Wednesday (October 21). Signed by its Executive Director, Saidur Rahman, the report analysed road accident data from 2020 to September 2026.
According to the report, 3,547 of the children killed were aged 13 to 17, accounting for 44.54% of the total. Another 2,884 were aged six to 12, while 1,532 were aged five or younger.
Rural roads recorded the highest number of child deaths, at 2,713. Another 2,082 children were killed on regional roads, 1,974 on highways and 1,194 on urban roads.
The report said failure to follow traffic rules and inadequate monitoring on roads near residential areas increase risks to children.
The highest number of child deaths, 2,634, occurred in the afternoon. A total of 2,513 children were killed while travelling to or from educational institutions. Among the children killed as pedestrians, 1,271 died after being hit or run over by three-wheelers.
The foundation made six recommendations to reduce child deaths in road accidents. These include developing child-friendly roads and transport systems, raising awareness among families and educational institutions, taking action against unskilled and underage drivers, improving medical services at district hospitals, establishing a special government fund to cover the treatment of injured children, and enforcing the Road Transport Act 2018.
The report described child deaths and disabilities caused by road accidents as an irreparable loss to the country. It stressed the need for effective safety measures, better road management and greater public awareness.
