News Desk :
At least eight people were killed in Sirajganj, Bandarban and in Chattogram districts on Thursday.
In Sirajganj: Five workers were killed and six others injured when a ston-laden truck crashed into a mini passenger vehicle on the busy Hatikumrul-Bonpara highway in Sirajganj in the early hours of Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Mukul Hossain, 35, son of Abdul Majid, Monir Hossain, 34, son of Abul Bashar, Makbul Hossain, 35, son of Jamir Uddin, Abdul Halim, 45, son of Izal Haque, and Haidar Ali, 40, son of Abdul Kuddus of Natore district, reports UNB.
All the victims were occupants of the mini passenger vehicle (locally known as Leguna).
Lutfur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police, said that the accident occurred in the Ramarchar area of the district’s Solonga upazila.
“The stone-laden truck crashed into the Natore-bound Leguna, leaving three dead on the spot and eight others injured,” he said.
Two other injured died on the way to hospital, he added. “The other injured are being treated at different hospitals.”
Road accidents in Bangladesh continue to claim hundreds of lives every year.
As many as 543 people, including 81 children, were killed and 612 others injured in 427 road accidents in April, the Road Safety Foundation said in its latest report, released on May 7.
The non-government organisation said 206 lives were lost in 189 motorcycle accidents, which is 37.93% of the total deaths. Also, 116 pedestrians and 87 drivers and their assistants were killed in March accidents.
On the other hand, accidents on waterways claimed at least eight lives while 23 were killed and five injured in train accidents across Bangladesh last month.
In Bandarban: Three persons were killed and seven others injured after a tourist microbus fell into a deep gorge at Jiban Nagar under Thanchi upazila in Bandarban district on Thursday morning.
The accident happened at about 11:00am on the slope of Jiban Nagar area.
All the dead and injured are the employees of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).
Law enforcers and locals said a black XNoah microbus carrying tourists arrived at Jiban Nagar from Dhaka at about 11:00am. Losing control, the microbus veered off the road and fell into an about 2,000 feet deep gorge, leaving one person dead on the spot, and eight others with life-threatening injuries.
The dead were Manzurul Islam while Hamidul Islam and Rajib Mia succumbed after they were rushed to a nearby hospital.
The injured were admitted to Thanchi Upazila Health Complex and Bandarban Sadar Hospital.
They are BUET security section’s employees Wahid, Joynal, Milon, Manzur, Abdul Malek and driver Faruk.
Injured BUET employee Wahid said all the dead and injured are the employees of BUET security section. “We came to Bandarban from Dhaka, but our microbus veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge losing control at Jiban Nagar area on our way to Thanchi. We were nine passengers inside the microbus including the driver.”
Contacted, BUET’s student welfare director Mizanur Rahman said, “I have no information whether it was an official tour of BUET. I can’t tell you whether anyone went to Bandarban seperately. We have also received an information of accident and looking into the matter.”
Thanchi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rahul Chandra said the accident happened when the microbus carrying eight tourists and the driver arrived at Jibon Nagar from Dhaka at about 11:00am. Losing control, the car veered off the road and fell into a some 2,000 feet deep gorge, leaving one person dead on the spot, and eight others with life-threatening injuries.
Meanwhile, Bandarban Sadar Hospital’s resident medical officer (RMO) Md Iqbal said several critically injured persons were rescued and brought at the hospital. Two more succumbed at the hospital later on.
Thanchi Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Sudip Roy said rain has been taking place in Bandarban from the morning. Rescuers are facing great difficulties due to incessant rain and depth of the gorge.
