Road crashes involving multiple members of the same family are becoming an increasingly alarming trend in Bangladesh, with nearly 300 families reportedly wiped out in devastating accidents over the past six years and 10 months.
An analysis by the Road Safety Foundation found that multiple members of the same family were killed in crashes involving motorcycles, autorickshaws, microbuses, private cars, ambulances and buses across the country between 2020 and October 2026.
According to a report released by the organisation on Sunday (November 8), the findings were based on an analysis of accident data published in nine national dailies, 17 online news portals, electronic media reports and information collected through its own sources.
The report said motorcycle crashes accounted for 193 incidents in which husbands and wives were killed together and 159 incidents involving fathers and their children. A total of 386 husbands and wives and 318 fathers and children lost their lives in these accidents.
The situation was even more alarming in autorickshaw crashes. The report recorded 211 incidents in which two members of the same family were killed, 118 incidents involving three deaths, 92 involving four, 53 involving five, 38 involving six and 13 involving seven family members.
Altogether, 1,728 people were killed in 525 such autorickshaw crashes.
Microbus accidents also claimed a significant number of lives. The report documented 48 incidents in which two family members died, 46 involving three deaths, 39 involving four, 28 involving five and 20 involving six. There were also four incidents in which 11 members of the same family were killed and one in which 14 family members died.
A total of 708 people were killed in these microbus crashes.
In private car accidents, 34 incidents involved the deaths of two family members, 31 involved three, 24 involved four and 19 involved five. Altogether, 352 people were killed in 108 such crashes.
Ambulance accidents claimed 162 lives in 45 incidents involving multiple members of the same family. Of these, 11 incidents involved two deaths, 15 involved three, nine involved four, seven involved five and three involved eight family members.
Bus crashes also resulted in multiple fatalities within families. The report identified 17 incidents involving two deaths, nine involving three and six involving four. A total of 85 people were killed in these 32 accidents.
The report also mentioned an incident in which four members of the same family were killed after a pickup van lost control and overturned.
The Road Safety Foundation identified several factors behind the deaths of multiple members of the same family in road crashes. These include the tendency of family members to travel together for work or leisure, the operation of autorickshaws on highways, unfit microbuses and ambulances, drivers' lack of skills and prolonged driving without adequate rest.
Other contributing factors include the failure to wear standard-quality helmets, reckless motorcycle riding, excessive speed and violations of traffic rules, the report said.
To reduce road crashes, the organisation recommended that motorcycle riders wear quality helmets and strictly follow traffic regulations.
It also called for the construction of road dividers and service roads along all highways, safer connections between rural roads and highways, and stronger monitoring of vehicle movement on roads and highways.
The report further stressed the need to ensure institutional effectiveness, transparency and accountability among relevant agencies, alongside educational and awareness programmes to improve the skills and safety awareness of road users.