4 of a family among 14 killed as bus, pickup collide in Faridpur

Fourteen people, including four from the same family, were killed in a bus-pickup van collision on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Faridpur on Tuesday (16 April).

Of the deceased, seven are women, four men, and three children.

All the deceased are from different areas of Faridpur.

"A Unique Paribahan bus going to Jashore from Dhaka collided with a pickup van coming from the opposite direction in the Diknagar area of Faridpur's Kanaipur upazila around 8am," said Md Morshed Alam, superintendent of Faridpur Police.

"Out of 17 passengers of the pickup, 11 were killed on the spot and six others were injured. They were quickly rescued and admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital in Faridpur, where two more succumbed to their injuries.

"Another named Md Iqbal died on his way to Dhaka," he added.

Morshed also said as soon as they were informed, Faridpur Highway Police, Fire Service, and police teams arrived at the spot and carried out rescue operations. Besides, the police kept the flow of traffic normal on the highway.

A seven-member probe body headed by  Additional District Magistrate Muhammad Ali Siddiqui was formed to investigate the incident.

Deputy Commissioner Md Quamrul Hasan Talukdar said, "Local administration formed the probe body and asked it to submit its report within three working days."

He said, "The government will provide Tk5 lakh to each family of the deceased and Tk3 lakh each for those injured in the accident.

"Besides, Tk20,000 has been given immediately to the deceased families for burial purposes."

Milon was on his way to distribute relief

Government official Rakibul Islam Milon, 45, his wife Sumi Begum, 23, his sons Ruhan Mollah, 8, and Abu Sinam, 3, were among the deceased.

Milon worked at the Secretariat and was on his way to collect relief materials for cyclone-affected families.

His wife, two sons, and mother were also travelling with him. His mother was the sole survivor among them.

"Milon was on his way to the deputy commissioner's office to get relief materials for families in need. He planned to drop them off and return to Dhaka the same day," said his cousin, Nurujjaman Khosru.

Another cousin of Milon, Mokibul Islam, said, "The law forbids passengers in pickups. Yet, no one enforces it."

Two killed in Mymensingh road accident

Meanwhile, at least two passengers died and 20 others were injured in a head-on collision between two buses at Tarakanda upazila of Mymensingh yesterday.

The accident happened when a Dhaka-bound bus collided head-on with a Sherpur-bound bus near Kodaldhar Bazar in the upazila at 8:30am on Tuesday, said Tarakanda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Wazed Ali.

The identities of the deceased and injured could not be immediately ascertained.

Police and fire service personnel jointly launched rescue operations after being informed about the matter.

Among the injured, 16 passengers have been admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment, said the police official.