Dhaka: Some 3,608 people, including 423 women and 465 children, were killed and 7,786 others injured in 2,926 road accidents across Bangladesh in the last 10 months, according to the National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways (NCPSRR).

The fatal accidents took place on highways and national, inter-district and regional roads between January 1 and October 31, the non-government organisation said in its regular monthly survey and observation report released on Wednesday.

The report was prepared on the basis of reports published in 22 national dailies, 10 regional newspapers and eight online news portals and news agencies, said an NCPSRR press release.

According to the NCPSRR report, the highest number of accidents and casualties took place in February while the lowest in August.

In February, 472 people, including 56 women and 58 children, lost their lives in 372 road accidents while 217 accidents killed 279 people, including 25 women and 31 children, in August.

The report said 416 people, including 54 women and 55 children, were killed and 1,012 others received injuries in 350 road crashes in January, while 330 accidents killed 362 people, including 49 women and 54 children, and injured 865 others in March.

Some 349 people lost their lives and 861 others received injuries in 320 crashes in April. Of the deceased, 47 were women and 48 children.

A total of 320 accidents occurred in May when 410 people, including 52 women and 58 children, were killed and 1,016 others injured, according to the report.

Besides, 333 people, including 34 women and 42 children, lost their lives and 632 others received injuries in 265 road accidents in June.

In July, 297 people, including 27 women and 35 children, were killed and 517 others were injured in 219 accidents.

A total of 249 road accidents took place in September when 356 people, including 38 women and 39 children, died and 605 others injured, while 379 people lost their lives and 681 others received injuries in 258 road crashes in October. Among the deceased, women and children were 41 and 48 respectively in October.

Ashis Kumar Dey, general secretary of the national committee, said they identified nine vital reasons for the accidents at present time during the survey and observation.

These were reckless driving, an increase in the number of three wheeled vehicles on roads and highways, carrying of passengers and goods in locally made mechanised small vehicles, overloading and overtaking tendency violating laws, not following traffic rules and regulation properly on long routes, including densely populated areas, long-time driving without any interval, remarkable number of risky turning points and dilapidated roads, lack of implementation of existing laws to stop plying of unfit vehicles and employing unskilled drivers without licences.

Lack of proper supervision and control of the authorities concerned and lack of general people's awareness are the major reasons for high number of road accidents, Ashis noted.