Father, son among 7 killed in bus crash

At least seven people, including a man and his son, were killed and 29 others injured when a bus veered of the road and plunged into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Barishal highway in Faridpur Sadar yesterday.

The deceased are Joar Sardar, 65, and his son Iman Sardar, 35, of Shekharkandi village in Nagarkanda upazila; Deepa Khan, 34, of Kathiya Barogram in Nagarkanda; Bharati Sarkar, 40, of Char Chandpur village in Sadar upazila; Alam Chowdhury, 40, of Gazitek village in Charbhadrasan upazila, Faziron Nesa, 62, of Goalachamot area in Faridpur town; and Azibur Uddin, 43, of Fakirpara village in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat.

The accident took place in front of Sharif Jute Mills in the Bakhunda area around 11:00am.

Nazrul Islam, senior station officer of Faridpur Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the crash happened when the Faridpur-bound bus was overtaking another vehicle and hit a roadside pillar and fell on a ditch.

On information, they went to the spot and rescued 36 people and sent them to Faridpur Medical College Hospital, where the on-duty doctor declared seven of them dead.

Injured Bandhon Sarkar, 25, is now receiving treatment at the Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Talking to The Daily Star, she said the bus driver was driving recklessly from the start. Passengers repeatedly asked him to slow down, but he ignored every one.

Atiar Rahman, ward master of Faridpur Medical College Hospital, said of the injured brought to the hospital, five were declared brought dead and two others died during treatment.

The remaining 29 have been admitted to the hospital.

Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ishrat Jahan said she visited the site of the accident. "Witnesses said the bus going over 80km/h. The accident happened solely due to the driver's recklessness."

Assistant Superintendent of Madaripur Highway Police Station Md Maruf Hossain echoed the same, saying the vehicle lost control while overtaking at high speed.

The driver fled the scene after the crash, he said, adding police were trying to identify him.

Nasir Uddin, assistant director of Faridpur Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, said the Farabi Paribahan bus' fitness certificate had expired on March 5 and and tax token on June 26, 2024. "Fitness certificates must be renewed annually, ideally 7–10 days before expiry."

The bus is owned by Faizur Rahman, labour affairs secretary of Faridpur District Awami League. He hails from the Courtpara area of Bhanga upazila. He could not be reached for comments.

Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Md Kamrul Hasan Molla said a five-member probe committee led by the additional district magistrate of Faridpur has been formed to investigate the crash.

The families of the deceased are being given Tk 25,000 each as an immediate aid and a lump sum amount will be provided
later through the BRTA, added the DC.