The accident occurred at around 3.15am on 24 October in the Hasara area, on the Dhaka-bound carriageway of the Dhaka–Mawa Expressway. Two Fire Service and Civil Defence rescue units rushed to the scene and began evacuating passengers from the wreckage.
One of the deceased was identified as Rukunuzzaman Ranjু, 55, from Chuadanga. The identities of the other two victims had not been established immediately after the accident. Their bodies were recovered and handed over to the highway police.
The 16 injured passengers were identified as Hridoy, 30; Shahin Akter, 32; Nur Islam, 55; Imran, 27; Gilbad Sarker, 55; Tarikul Islam, 36; Saiful Islam, 40; Mirajul Islam, 28; Rafiqul Islam, 35; Anifin, 17; Sandipan Basu, 40; Ikram, 40; Raihan, 21; Hasib, 22; Tisha, 24; and Borhan Uddin, 55.
They are residents of different areas in Chuadanga, Meherpur, Jhenaidah, Dhaka and Magura.
Muhammad Shafiqul Islam PFM, deputy assistant director of the Munshiganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the bus was travelling from Chuadanga to Dhaka when the driver lost control while attempting to overtake a covered van.
The bus subsequently broke through the road barrier, crossed the service lane and fell into the water-filled ditch beside the expressway.
Following the incident, two rescue units from the Srinagar Fire Station arrived promptly and launched an operation to assist the passengers. Eleven injured people were transported by Fire Service ambulance to Srinagar Upazila Health Complex for medical treatment. The remaining five received first aid at the scene.
The crash highlights the dangers associated with unsafe overtaking on major roads, particularly during the early hours of the morning. Overtaking requires drivers to assess the speed and position of other vehicles, the available road space and whether the manoeuvre can be completed safely. Losing control at high speed can have serious consequences, especially on roads bordered by barriers, service lanes or water-filled ditches.
The Dhaka–Mawa Expressway is an important transport route connecting the capital with districts in south-western Bangladesh. It carries passenger buses, goods vehicles and private transport, making safe driving practices essential for preventing serious accidents.
However, the available information does not establish whether excessive speed, a mechanical fault or any other factor contributed to the crash. Further details about the victims’ conditions and the circumstances surrounding the incident were not immediately available.
