Couple among three killed as bus crushes battery-powered van in Sirajganj

Three people, including a husband and wife, were killed after a passenger bus rammed into a battery-powered van in Sirajganj's Belkuchi upazila .

The accident took place around 6:00am near Meghulla Bus Stand in Belkuchi on Friday morning (June 5).

At least 10 others, including the couple's teenage daughter, were injured in the crash.

The deceased were identified as Md. Motaleb Sarkar, 40, and his wife Fazila Khatun, 35, from Ajugra Hijoltola area, and van driver Md. Nuru, 45, of Jamtail village. The couple's daughter, Tamanna Khatun, 16, was among the injured.

According to police, the axle of the passenger-carrying battery-powered van broke while it was travelling toward Mukundagati, causing the vehicle to collapse onto the road. Moments later, a speeding Dhaka Express bus travelling from Enayetpur to Dhaka ran over the van, killing the couple and the van driver on the spot.

The bus subsequently lost control and crashed into a roadside tree, leaving several passengers injured.

Imam Zafar, officer-in-charge (OC) of Belkuchi Police Station, said, "Police recovered the bodies and handed them over to the victims' families. Tamanna was admitted to Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital, where she remains in critical condition."

"The bus has been seized, but its driver and helper fled the scene. Legal proceedings are underway," police said.