Every year, March 29 -- ul-Fitr brings with it something Bangladesh has grown painfully accustomed to, a surge in deaths on its roads and waterways. The festival is supposed to be about homecoming. For hundreds of families this year, it became a story of loss instead.

According to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF), at least 274 people were killed and over 1,500 injured in 342 road accidents across the country during the 10-day Eid travel period between March 16 and 26, 2026.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association (BPWA) reported a slightly different figure: at least 285 people killed and 729 injured in 270 accidents between March 18 and 25.

The gap between the two figures reflects different reporting windows and methodologies, not...