7 of a family killed as microbus plunges into ditch in Noakhali

Seven members of the same family were killed early Wednesday morning when a microbus plunged into a roadside ditch near Chandraganj in Begumganj upazila of Noakhali.

The Dhaka-bound vehicle was heading towards Lakshmipur when the accident occurred around 5:30 AM. According to authorities, the victims were all residents of Choupalli area under Uttar Joypur Union in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila.

Assistant Director of the Fire Service, Abdul Hamid, confirmed the fatalities.

Sources said the family was en route to receive a relative, Bahar Uddin, who had recently returned from Oman. Tragically, the journey turned fatal as the microbus veered off the road and fell into a ditch.

Chandraganj Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Mobarak Hossain Bhuiyan stated that preliminary investigations suggest the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to lose control.

“Some of the passengers managed to escape, but seven were trapped inside and died on the spot,” the OC said. “Locals, thinking the victims were still alive, took them to nearby hospitals before authorities arrived at the scene.”

Police have since recovered the microbus and brought it to Chandraganj Highway Police Station. Efforts are ongoing to retrieve the bodies and complete formal procedures.