6 killed as bus crashes into a tree

Six people were killed and at least 15 others injured as a bus crashed into a roadside tree in Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat yesterday.

Five of them died on the spot and the sixth in Fakirhat Upazila Health Complex. The injured were sent to different hospitals, said police.

Witnesses said the accident took place in Kakdanga area of Fakirhat upazila around 9:15am after the driver lost control over the wheel.

Local resident Habibullah, who was walking to a nearby bazar at the time, said the bus was travelling at a high speed. First it hit a small tree and ran over a road construction worker before crashing into another tree.

Witness Hafizur said he suddenly heard a noise while working in his field. “We ran to the spot and saw the bus was flipped on one side and people were screaming.”

Fakirhat police, Katakhali highway police and Bagerhat fire fighters rescued the injured and sent them to local hospitals. The bodies were sent to Katakhali Highway Police Station, said Sheikh Abu Zahid, officer-in-charge of Fakirhat Model Police Station.

Deputy Assistant Director of Bagerhat fire office, Masud Sardar, said the bus was heading from Khulna’s Rupsha upazila to Ghona Para of Gopalganj.

The deceased include bus driver Farhad, 45, of Naihati village, and helper Sumon, 38, of Pachani village, of Rupsha upazila in Khulna, and road construction worker Delowar, 60, of Koyra upazila of Khulna. The rest were passengers Hakmot Biswas, 45, of Kodla village under Bagerhat Sadar upazila, Kuddus Sarder, 60, of Arjunpur village of Koyra upazila in Khulna, and Hosneara, 30, of Boiltoli village of Fakirhat upazila.

The bus was carrying around 20 passengers, said Rabiul Islam, officer-in-charge of Katakhali Highway Police Station.

SIX TOURISTS INJURED

Six youths were injured as two motorbikes they were riding collided head-on in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali yesterday.

The injured were sent to hospital. They are Rabbi, 22, and Gias Uddin, 38, of Bamna, Barguna; Rakib, 26 of Mathbaria, Pirojpur; Milon, 19 of Bhatikhana, and Sasni, 18, of Kawnia, Barishal; and Rakib, 20 of Muladi, Barishal.

Police said Rabbi and two of his friends were returning from Kuakata, while Milon with his two friends was going to the sea beach. Their motorbikes collided in Mohammadpur area, around 11:00am.

Six people were killed and at least 12 injured as a bus hit a roadside tree in Fakirhat area of Bagerhat on May 18, 2019. Photo: Collected