Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has arrested the driver of a passenger bus that continued to travel for several kilometres despite its roof being torn off in a series of collisions on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in Sreenagar upazila of Munshiganj on April 17.

The driver, Shahidul Sheikh, 30, was detained from the Dholeshwari Toll Plaza area in South Keraniganj around 9:00pm last night, said ASP Shamim Hasan Sardar, assistant director (media) of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-10, in a press release.

Shahidul is the son of Fazlu Sheikh from the Muksudpur Police Station area in Gopalganj district, the release added.

Abdul Kader Jilani, officer-in-charge of Hasara Highway Police Station, said the accused was handed over to the station by Rab and produced before court today.

On the night of April 17, the speeding Barisal Express bus first rammed into a private car on the Kamarkhola Rail Flyover of the expressway, and then collided with a covered van, causing severe damage to the front of the vehicle.

According to police, seeing police and army vehicles approaching from behind, the driver panicked and drove recklessly. The bus then hit the expressway railing at Samashpur, which tore off its entire roof. Despite the extensive damage, the driver continued driving with around 60 passengers on board.

Eight passengers were injured in the incident.

Following the events, Assistant Sub-Inspector Atiur Rahman filed a case under the Road Transport Act with Hasara Highway Police Station.