9 killed in bus, private car, motorcycle collision

At least nine people, including five members of two families, were killed and 25 others injured in a three-way collision among a passenger bus, private car and motorcycle in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj today (May 14, 2022).

The mishap left three passengers and the driver of the car, two people on the motorcycle, two farm labourers, and a bus passenger, dead on the spot.

The deceased were identified as car passengers Bashudev Saha (52), his wife Sibani Saha (44) and son Sapnil Saha (20) of Gopalganj town, and car driver Ajijur Islam (44), farm labours Firoj Mollah (55) and his wife Ruma Begum (40) of South Fukra village of Gopalganj's Kashiani upazila, motorcyclist and pillion rider Anik Raham Babu (28) of South Fukra village and Yasmin Aktar (19) of Khayerhat village under Kashiani upazila, and bus passenger Altaf Hossain Khan (50), of Patharghata in Barguna, reports our Faridpur correspondent. 

Bashudev Saha worked as an anesthesiologist of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), said his brother Lelin Shah.

Abul Kalam Azad, deputy assistant director of Gopalganj Fire Service said the accident took place when a Dhaka-bound bus of Rajib Paribahan from Khulna collided head-on with a private car at Milton Bazar area around 11am.

After being hit by the bus, the car later hit a motorbike and fell on farm labours, who were harvesting paddy, beside the road.

Ashit Kumar Mollik, assistant director of Gopalganj General Hospital said, "Nine people were brought dead and other injured 22 were admitted to this hospital."

Anamul Sheikh, a member of Fukra Union parishad said, "Hearing the sound of collision of road accident. We rushed to the spot and saw a tragic situation on the road.  Firoj Mollah and his wife Ruma were harvesting the paddy beside the highway. But the private car ran them over."

Anik and Yasmin were on a motorbike and they also died on the spot as their motorbike fell between the bus and private car."

Md Tinu Mollah, a neighbour of the farmer, said, "Firoj has three sons. The eldest son is a student of Class 10, and second son in Class 8, and youngest is in Class 6. He was physically challenged person. With the help of his wife and sons, he harvested the paddy for others as labours and earned their livelihood. Now his children have become orphans."

Md Sirajul Islam, in-charge of Bhatiapara Highway Police Outpost, said on information, police recovered the bodies and rescued 25 injured from the spot. All the bodies were kept on Gopalganj General Hospital's morgue.

The police official said after the accident the highway was blocked for half an hour. Police seized all the three vehicles.