Truck Crash on Highway Claims 15 Lives

A devastating road accident on the Dhaka–Tangail–Jamuna Bridge Highway in Kalihati Upazila has left at least 15 people dead, with their bodies now kept at a local police station as authorities work to confirm identities and prepare post-mortem examinations.

The victims were recovered from the crash site early on Monday morning and taken to the Jamuna Bridge East Police Station. Police later began arrangements to send the bodies to Tangail General Hospital for autopsies.

According to police and fire service officials, the incident occurred around 4 a.m. in the Saratail Southpara area of Kalihati Upazila, Tangail District, Bangladesh, when a rod-laden truck lost control and plunged into a roadside ditch before overturning. The impact proved fatal as passengers on board became trapped beneath iron rods and the vehicle’s wheels. At least 15 people were killed on the spot, while around six others sustained injuries of varying severity.

Fire service personnel from Kalihati Fire Service confirmed that the truck was travelling towards northern Bangladesh when it crashed. Officials said that, in addition to construction rods, the vehicle was also carrying passengers—an unsafe practice that significantly increased the scale of the tragedy. Rescue operations were launched immediately after the accident to recover the injured and the deceased.

A large number of bodies were later seen lined up inside the premises of the police station, where grieving relatives gathered in distress. The emotional scene underscored the human toll of the disaster, with families struggling to identify loved ones amid mounting chaos.

Police have stated that at least 13 of the deceased were residents of various villages in Manda Upazila, Naogaon District, Bangladesh. Many of them were reportedly returning home for the Eid holiday when the accident occurred. However, full identification of all victims has yet to be completed.

Superintendent of Police for Tangail, Muhammad Shamsul Alam Sarkar, said that passengers had been picked up from different locations along the route, suggesting the truck was being used informally to transport people alongside goods. Investigators are now working to establish the full identities of the deceased and determine the exact circumstances that led to the loss of control.

Officer-in-Charge Khoshruzzaman of Manda Police Station confirmed that preliminary information indicates most victims originated from Manda Upazila, though detailed verification is still underway.

Casualty Summary

Authorities have continued their investigation, while families await the release of the bodies after post-mortem examinations.