Our Staff Correspondent from Rajshahi reports: A retired army man was killed and his wife injured when a speeding bus hit the motorcycle in which they were travelling in the city's Binodpur area yesterday.

In protest, a mob set fire to the bus and barricaded the road for one hour. However, the driver and helper of the bus managed to escape.

Nazim Uddin, 48, a retired sergeant, along with his wife Nasima Khatun Hasna was going to the house of his father-in-law at Dasmari at around 10:30am when the accident took place.

Nazim Uddin died on the spot while his wife was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state. She did not regain consciousness as of yesterday afternoon.

The accident sparked off violent protest. Later, the police brought the situation under control.

Our Correspondent from Pabna adds: At least two people, including a child, were killed and five others injured in a road accident at Kashinatpur intersection on the Dhaka-Pabna highway yesterday. Sources said the accident occurred when a speeding truck hit a rickshaw as the traffic police chased the Pabna-bound truck. It is learnt that police chased the truck for extortion.

A five-year old girl Eti, daughter of Lal Miah of village Majhdia under Shanthia upazila, died on the spot, leaving five others injured. Of the injured, rickshawpuller Alam, 25, son of Abdul Gofur, succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.

Agitated people put up barricade on the highway for an hour and beat up traffic police Rafiz Uddin for realising toll from the vehicles. Meanwhile, police charged batons to disperse the mob, leaving five injured. The barricade was withdrawn at about 7:30pm.