At least 13 people were killed and at least 25 others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a truck in Natore district early on Tuesday. The accident occurred at around 5am in front of the Bonpara Police Investigation Centre in Baraigram upazila, on the Natore-Pabna highway.
The deceased include the truck driver, identified as Alamgir Hossain. The identities of the other victims had not been established immediately after the accident.
According to police and fire service sources, an RP Paribahan bus travelling from Barishal collided head-on with a truck approaching from the opposite direction. The impact was severe, leaving nine people dead at the scene. Four more victims subsequently died after being taken to hospital, including a child who died while receiving treatment at Natore Sadar Hospital.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain of Bonpara Highway Police confirmed that the death toll had reached 13. Authorities were working to establish the identities of the victims and gather further information about the incident.
Fire service personnel rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the collision. They began rescue operations and helped recover the injured from the wreckage before arranging for their transfer to nearby medical facilities.
The injured were taken to hospitals in the surrounding area, as well as in Natore and Rajshahi, for treatment. At least 25 people were reported injured, although detailed information about the severity of their injuries was not immediately available.
The collision also brought traffic on the Natore-Pabna highway to a standstill. A lengthy traffic jam developed around the Bonpara Police Investigation Centre, causing disruption for passengers and other road users. Efforts were subsequently made to clear the affected stretch and restore normal traffic movement.
The exact cause of the crash remained unclear in the immediate aftermath. Investigators will need to establish the circumstances that led to the vehicles colliding, including whether speed, driver error, unsafe overtaking or another factor contributed to the accident. There was no immediate confirmation that any of these factors had played a role.
The incident once again highlights the dangers of serious collisions on Bangladesh’s highways, where a single crash can result in multiple fatalities and widespread disruption. Maintaining safe speeds, adhering to traffic regulations and ensuring that drivers remain alert are essential measures for reducing the risk of such accidents.
Authorities are expected to establish the identities of the deceased and determine the circumstances surrounding the collision. Further details about the investigation and the condition of the injured were not immediately available.
