6 killed in road crashes

Three of them were killed and 80 others, including five policemen, injured in Sirajganj road accidents yesterday, reports our correspondent in Sirajganj.

Police said Dulera Khatun, 36, wife of Khairuzzaman of Kajibari village in Mithapukur, Rangpur, and an unidentified child, aged about 7, died on the spot when a speeding bus hit another bus from behind on Jhaoil bridge amid dense fog at about 5:00am.

At least 15 people were injured in the accident. They are now undergoing treatment at Sirajganj General Hospital.

Another accident took place at 6.00am on Dhaka-Bogra highway at Kuthirchar in Kamar Khanda upazila as two tempos collided head-on, killing one driver identified as Helal Uddin, 17, and injuring five people. The injured were admitted to Kamar Khanda Health Complex in a critical condition.

In another incident, at least 15 people were injured when a Dhaka-bound coach of Hanif Paribahan and a coach of Ananda Paribahan collided head-on at Kodda area.

Five policemen were injured, two of them critically, when a pick-up van of Sadar Police Station skidded off the road and fall into a roadside ditch as the driver lost control over the steering at Bazar station area in the town.

In another accident, at least 40 people were injured when two buses collided head-on amid dense fog at Mulibari.

Our correspondent in Barisal adds: Two passenger buses collided head-on on Barisal-Dhaka highway at about 9:30am yesterday, killing the driver of a bus.

Thirty-five passengers were also injured in the collision between Barisal-bound night coach of Druti Paribahan and Dhaka-bound coach of Sakura Paribahan, witnesses said.

The accident took place near Gournadi Fire Service Station and both the vehicles hit roadside trees after colliding with each other.

Fire Service men, police and local people rushed to the spot and rescued the victims.

Md Hanif, 50, driver of Druti Paribahan, died at Gournadi Upazila Health Complex.

Five injured people, including Delwar Hossain, 45, driver of Sakura Paribahan, were sent to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

Traffic movement remained suspended for over an hour due to rescue operation and protests by people. The police brought the situation under control at about 11:00am.

Our correspondent in Jessore reports: A hide trader was killed and six others were injured in two road accidents in Jessore.

A private car met with an accident on Jessore-Magura road at Shimakhali at around 10:00am yesterday, killing Khokon, 35, a hide trader from Dhaka, and injuring businessman Javed, 34, and driver Hiru, 30.

The traders were coming from Dhaka to buy hides and skins of sacrificial animals from Rajarhat market in Jessore.

In another accident on Friday, a private car of a bridal party hits a roadside tree when the driver lost control over the steering on Jessore-Narail road at Bhangura, injuring four people -- Shikdar Khalid, a sub-editor of the daily Loksamaj, his wife Swarani, Khairul, 7, and his sister Muslima, 15.

BDNEWS adds: A university student was killed and another injured in a road mishap at Bamunpara on Meherpur-Mujibnagar highway yesterday.

The dead was identified as Tapash Kumar Patra, 19, a first year student of BBA at the University of Development Alternative (UODA) in Dhaka.

Sources said Tapash, son of Sahadeb Kumar Patra, a jeweller, and Sunny, 19, a student of Dinajpur Medical College, were travelling in a motorcycle when a bus of Dolna Enterprise hit them on Meherpur-Mujibnagar highway at Bamunpara, leaving both of them injured.

Later, Tapash succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital. Sunny was admitted to a clinic in Dhaka.