Two people, including a microbus driver, were killed and seven others injured after a microbus travelling on the wrong side of the road collided head-on with a corn-laden truck in Bogura’s Shajahanpur upazila early Thursday.
The accident occurred at around 4am near Noymail on the Bogura-Dhaka highway, according to Ayub Ali, in-charge of the Sherpur Highway Police Camp in Bogura.
The deceased have been identified as Ferdous Mondol, 25, son of Faruk Mondol of Gopinathpur village in Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat, and Zubayedul Islam, 30, son of Hasher Ali of Barail village in the same upazila. Ferdous was driving the microbus, while Zubayedul was travelling as a passenger.
According to witnesses, the microbus was carrying a returning expatriate and seven relatives who were travelling from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to their home in Akkelpur, Joypurhat. The group was reportedly returning after receiving the expatriate passenger from the airport.
When the microbus reached the Noymail bus stand area in the early hours, it entered the opposite lane of the highway. A corn-carrying truck was approaching from the other direction at the time. The two vehicles then collided head-on.
The impact was severe, leaving the microbus badly mangled. Ferdous and Zubayedul died at the scene. Seven other passengers sustained injuries in the crash.
After receiving information about the accident, police and Fire Service personnel went to the spot and recovered the bodies. The injured were rescued and taken to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for treatment.
The two vehicles involved in the crash were subsequently removed from the highway, while police have begun the necessary legal procedures, Ayub Ali said.
Accidents on major highways can become particularly serious when vehicles cross into opposing lanes, as head-on collisions often leave little time for approaching drivers to react. In this case, the collision occurred during the early morning hours while the microbus was carrying passengers on a long-distance journey.
Police said further legal action would be taken in accordance with the circumstances surrounding the crash.
