Licences of two buses cancelled after accident kills nine

The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) has cancelled the licences of the two buses involved in the collision that killed nine people in Osmaninagar, Sylhet.

The drivers and owners of the two buses have been asked to appear in person within five days to explain the accident. BRTA Sylhet Assistant Director Engineer Abdur Rashid confirmed the matter on Saturday, August 8.

He said the licences of the two accident-hit buses — Unique and Bengal Transport — have been cancelled for now. Additionally, explanations have been sought from the drivers and owners of both buses. Further action will be taken after receiving their explanations.

On Friday morning, around 7:30am, a Sylhet-bound Bengal Transport bus collided with a Dhaka-bound Unique Transport bus in the Kashikapon area on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. Following the collision, the Unique Transport bus fell into a ditch. Eight passengers of that bus died at the scene. One more person died after being taken to hospital. At least 25 people were injured in the accident.

According to BRTA sources, the Dhaka-bound Unique Transport bus had registration number Dhaka Metro-B-15-2563, and the Sylhet-bound Bengal Transport bus had registration number Dhaka Metro-B-12-5987. After the accident, the Sylhet BRTA office applied to Dhaka for cancellation of the licences of the two buses. The licences were cancelled following that application.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that financial assistance of Tk 5 lakh will be provided to the family of each deceased victim. Families of those who become disabled will receive Tk 3 lakh, and the injured will receive Tk 1 lakh each.

BRTA Sylhet Assistant Director Engineer Abdur Rashid said the families of the deceased are being contacted. Financial assistance will be provided soon after the families submit applications. Application forms for those who become disabled and the injured have also been sent to the hospital authorities.

A five-member probe committee has been formed by the Sylhet district administration to investigate the cause of the accident. The committee has been asked to examine the cause and related matters and submit a report within five working days.

Overspeeding or driver fatigue is being considered a possible cause of the accident initially. However, no cause will be finalised before the investigation is completed, said Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun.

He said the probe committee will review the situation at the time of the accident, the movement of the two buses, the role of the drivers and related road conditions. The actual cause of the accident and any liability, if found, will be included in the investigation report.