In recent studies, it has been observed that fatigue is one of the major factors contributing to fatal accidents in Bangladesh. It is increasing tremendously and alarmingly and causing the huge loss of lives and assets. In Bangladesh, heavy vehicle drivers are susceptible to frequent fatigue related accidents, thus increasing disability and social and economic vulnerability. The study aims to identify truck drivers’ causes of fatigue and other physical, socio-psychological and economic consequences on the drivers. The study was conducted during January-June 2012 in the different truck and cargo terminals of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. A total of 400 drivers were chosen purposively. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews and focused group discussion methods. The study indicates that the reasons behind fatigue led injuries were the driver’s consistent working pressure, longer non-stop driving, traffic congestions, driving in drunk condition, inadequate facilities of physical and mental rests,  family conflicts and long detachment from family care,  owners and drivers ill relationship, harassments by police, job insecurity and income frustrations etc. The study showed that above 83% of the drivers directly or indirectly suffered from fatigue related problems. The study showed that pressure from owners and businessmen and lack of mal-nutrient food consumption were the leading causes of fatigue. The owners’ and drivers’ associations, civil society, Government of Bangladesh (GOB), NGOs and development partners should address the fatal crisis by adopting appropriate interventions to reduce the said fatigue related accidents.

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In combating the man-made epidemic on road by  traffic accidents and injuries, some major initiatives have been undertaken in Bangladesh in the past decade including policy formulation, research, education, legislation & sanctions, and engineering intervention. In comparison to the magnitude of the problems, the progresses are very slow due to enormous constraints at different levels. In this paper, the authors briefly reviewed some major road safety initiatives in recent years in Bangladesh taken by different government and private organizations. The key issue of this paper is to evaluate the initial impact of some of those interventions.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the magnitude and risk of livelihood asset damage due to climate change-induced disasters for the coastal fishermen of Bangladesh. Method Using a random sampling technique, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 338 coastal dwelling fishers and other coastal fishery actors from 11 coastal districts. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data following the face-to-face interview method. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Results Findings revealed that more than 90% of the participants lived within 3.5 kilometers of the coastal zones and had to struggle against at least three (range: 1–8) moderate to highly severe CCI disasters, including recurring floods, waterlogging, and cyclones, within the last five years. Consequently, 92% of C&MFs have lost livelihood assets, including physical and financial assets (living houses, fisheries, household livestock, and poultry). It was found that each C&MF (coastal and marine fishermen) household is recurrently losing an average of 9183 BDT annually in only three physical assets. Consequently, only about 0.6 million registered C&MFs are losing around 5,509 million BDT (equivalent to about $64.81 million US dollars) annually in Bangladesh. Thus, every one million HH of coastal and marine fishermen and other coastal fishery actors face financial losses of 9183 million BDT (equivalent to about $108.04 million) every year only in three physical assets. Each million C&MF households, on the other hand, borrows approximately 7301 million BDT (equivalent to $85.89 million) per year to cover household expenditure shortfalls caused by insufficient income and physical asset damage caused by CCI disasters. Conclusion Climate-resilient livelihoods, such as improving technological fishing skills to increase fish production and generating alternate income sources in different IGA (income-generating activity) trades during off-fishing seasons, have the potential to save C&MF's living standards and thus mitigate the negative effects of CCI disasters on the national economy.

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