758 killed in 639 accidents in 2024
At least 758 workers were killed in 639 accidents across the country in 2024, reported Safety and Rights Society on Tuesday.
In the same period in 2023, 875 workers were killed in 772 workplace accidents across the country. This year the number of workplace deaths has decreased slightly compared to last year. Workers who died in road accidents on their way to work were also included in the survey, said SRS at a press conference at its office.
The data comes from a survey based on news published in newspapers, 15 national and 11 local, said SRS executive director Sekender Ali Mina.
Of them, the transport sector recorded the highest number of worker fatalities totalling 379, 129 were killed in workshops, gas and electricity supply establishments, 92 workers killed in construction, among others.
Upon reviewing the causes of death, it is evident that 464 individuals perished in road accidents, 81 succumbed to electrocution, 30 were killed in fires and various explosions, 50 falling from a floor or above, 69 were struck by lightning, among others.
While publishing the survey data, executive director of SRS Sekender Ali Mina said that the actual number of workers killed in this accident at workplaces was more because the number of those who died here was only reported in the newspapers, but in many workplaces, the news of the deceased was not reported in the newspaper.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies in a press release said that at least 707 workers were killed in workplace accidents. Of them, 273 were transport sector workers, 102 agriculture and 91 from construction sector workers.
