Patuakhali: Four people were killed and several others injured when a bus collided with a battery-run rickshaw (easy bike) on Patuakhali-Kuakata highway near Basakbazar in Patuakhali Sadar upazila on Saturday night. The deceased were identified as easy-bike driver Kaiyum Uddin, 50, passengers Shilpi Rani, 40, and Tithi Rani, 23, and the driver's brother-in-law Md. Jahangir. All four victims were residents of Bauria-Boubazar area in Amkhola union under Galachipa upazila.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Dhaka-bound "Imran Paribahan" bus coming from Taltali in Barguna collided with the easy bike at Dhalugazir Mor around 11pm, and both vehicles plunged into a roadside fish enclosure. Kaiyum, Shilpi Rani, and Tithi Rani died on the spot while Jahangir succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Patuakhali 250-Bed Hospital.
Moniruzzaman, Patuakhali Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), stated that the bus driver fled the scene after the accident. Highway traffic was disrupted for nearly three hours following the incident.