Gopalganj: Five people, including a child, were killed and 20 others wounded in a bus-motorbike collision on Dhaka-Khulna highway in the Bedgram area under Sadar upazila around 11:45 am on the day of Eid-ul-Azha today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, eyewitnesses and fire service reported that a Pirojpur-bound passenger bus of Dola Paribahan collided head-on with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction at Bedgram area. After the collision, the bus overturned on the highway, resulting in the immediate death of motorcycle riders and two bus passengers.
An 8-year-old child later succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital. The identities of the deceased and injured could not be confirmed immediately. Upon receiving information about the accident, fire service personnel and Sadar Thana police members swiftly arrived at the scene and initiated rescue operations with the assistance of locals.
At least 20 injured individuals were rescued and admitted to the 250-bed Gopalganj General Hospital. Hospital sources indicated that several injured are in critical condition. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, Md. Anisur Rahman, confirmed the incident, stating that traffic movement on the highway was temporarily disrupted but police efforts restored normal traffic flow.
The bodies of the deceased are currently at the hospital and will be handed over to their families after legal procedures are completed, he added.