Three Killed in Madaripur Van Collision

A tragic road accident in Madaripur district claimed the lives of three van passengers and left two others injured on Tuesday, 13 January. The incident occurred around noon on the Dhaka–Barisal Highway, in the Tantibari area of the Mastofapur Union.

According to local sources, several passengers boarded a minibus at Bhangab Bridge at approximately 11:30 am, heading towards Mastofapur. As the vehicle approached Tantibari, it was struck by a rapidly moving covered van coming from the opposite direction. The force of the collision caused three passengers, who were seated on the roof of the minibus, to be killed instantly, while two others sustained serious injuries.

Mastofapur Highway Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Abdullah Al Mamun, stated: “The covered van collided with the minibus, killing three passengers who were on top of the vehicle. The injured have been admitted to hospital. Our teams are working to control the situation and restore traffic.”

While the identities of the victims and the injured are yet to be officially confirmed, eyewitnesses reported that the deceased included one middle-aged man and two young men. One of the injured passengers is in critical condition and has been referred to a hospital in Dhaka for specialised treatment.

The following table summarises the key details of the incident:

Eyewitnesses noted that the primary cause of the accident was the excessive speed of the covered van combined with the lack of traffic control for the passenger minibus. Authorities have advised both drivers and passengers to exercise extreme caution, particularly when boarding or travelling on roof-mounted seating.

The Madaripur District Administration dispatched additional personnel to assist the police in managing the aftermath and ensuring traffic resumed safely. Due to the collision, a section of the Dhaka–Barisal Highway was closed for approximately two hours. Traffic has gradually resumed, but officials continue to urge local commuters and passers-by to remain vigilant in the area.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about road safety in Bangladesh, particularly regarding passenger behaviour and the enforcement of speed regulations on major highways. Authorities have pledged to increase monitoring in accident-prone zones to prevent similar tragedies in the future.