The number of road crashes and deaths saw a “alarming rise” last year compared to the previous year, Nirapad Sarak Chai (Nischa) said today.

At least 5,227 people were killed while 6,953 injured in 4,702 road accidents across the country in 2019.

Nischa Chairman Ilias Kanchan revealed the information at a press conference at Dhaka’s Jatiya Press Club.

Kanchan said at least 198 people were killed and 347 injured in 162 rail-related accidents in 2019.

Besides, 64 people were killed while 157 inured and 110 went missing in 30 waterways accidents last year, he added.

A total of 3,103 road accidents killed 4,439 people and injured 7,425 others in 2018, he said.

Of the victims who were killed in road accidents in 2019, more than 50 per cent were pedestrians, Kanchan added.

Nirapad Sarak Chai Chairman Ilias Kanchan reveals road crash statistics at Dhaka’s Jatiya Press Club on Saturday, January 4, 2020. Photo: Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

The statistics have been prepared on the basis of reports of 11 national dailies, online news portals, TV channels, and information collected from the branch offices of the organisation, the chairman also said.

Unskilled and uneducated drivers, faulty vehicles and roads, poor traffic management, lack of awareness about traffic law and use of road among people, lack of political will and proper implementation of laws are to be blamed for those road crashes, he said.