Despite the visible modernization of the country’s communication system with the touch of mega projects like the Padma Bridge, Metrorail or Expressway, internal order and safety on the roads are still stuck in a maze. Since the beginning of 2026, the accident rate and the severity of traffic congestion on the country’s roads have raised deep concerns among the public.
According to a recent statistic, in the first month of January 2026 alone, at least 487 people were killed in 559 road accidents across the country. More than a thousand people were injured. Like every time, motorcycles are at the top of the accidents. About 40 percent of the total deaths were motorcyclists or riders. Experts say that reckless speed and indifference to the use of helmets are the main causes of these deaths.
For the past few days, severe traffic congestion has been observed on the Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Sylhet highways. Especially in the Madanpur and Asian Highway sections of Narayanganj, broken roads and the pressure of overloaded trucks are bringing public life to a standstill. Working hours are being wasted due to long-term traffic jams, and transportation costs are increasing. According to bus drivers, the poor condition of the roads in some specific places and the free movement of slow-moving three-wheelers are at the root of this jam.
The current Minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Sheikh Rabiul Alam said, gave important instructions in an emergency meeting on February 19 to restore order in road management.
Auto-rickshaws banned on main roads, The free movement of battery-powered auto-rickshaws will be strictly controlled on the main roads of Dhaka. In addition, the work of expanding the metro rail is being carried out at a fast pace so that the pressure of the city residents can be reduced. The process of digitalizing the transportation system through the online recharge facility of the ‘Rapid Pass’ card and mobile app has started.
Road experts blame several factors behind this delicate state of road management. Faulty design and infrastructure: At many places, ‘black spots’ are being created due to the defects in the curves and design of the roads. Unlicensed drivers and unfit vehicles: There are still a large number of unfit vehicles and unskilled drivers on the roads. Lax enforcement of the law: The Road Transport Act-2018 is not fully implemented and the lack of supervision is causing chaos.
The government is currently running the ‘Bangladesh Road Safety Project’ funded by the World Bank, under which 60,000 drivers are being given advanced training. However, according to the common people, training or expanding roads alone is not enough; a strict stance by the traffic police and awareness among ordinary pedestrians are equally important to maintain road discipline.
A representative of the Safe Road Movement. said, “Road development does not mean just paving the road, but ensuring a safe return home.”